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Russia: A Ghost Of The Past Has Returned

by the President of ICC

It was easy to say less than a decade ago that the old repressive bear of the Soviet era was dead. It now appears that is not the case - the ghost of times past has returned. Repression of religious minorities, which may in fact not be the minority, has once again returned to haunt the Russian people, and likely will have a profound affect on US-Russian relations in the coming years.

Under Russia's new religious law, any religious group that did not exist in Russia before 15 years ago will soon cease to exist. In today's "reformed" Russia, many may have already forgotten that a mere decade ago Russia's atheistic Communist Party ruled with an iron hand. Religion had been declared a "myth" and had no place in the great socialist plan. Only the Russian Orthodox Church, deeply infiltrated by the notorious KGB, was given any position of prominence in Russian life. The Orthodox Church was to serve those feeble-minded citizens who needed some form of religion to keep themselves going and to serve as reminder of Russia's traditional heritage.

For the past decade, a window of opportunity for freedom allowed every religious faith in the world a chance to flourish in Russia. Even in the public schools you would find western theologians teaching biblical truths and even praying openly. On the streets you would hear preachers calling people to repentance and Bibles and tracts freely being distributed. Guitars and vocalists could be heard as they offered a fresh wind of spiritual revival to a people thirsty for finding meaning and purpose for their lives. Now, all of that may be coming to an end. Just weeks after the Russian law on religion was signed by President Yeltsin, police have already began breaking up Catholic and Protestant gatherings.

Under the new '15-year-rule' and the 'Russians Only Rule', newer organizations will lose their legal entity. Irrespective of doctrine, size and international acceptance, some 26 million non- Russians living in Russia, those of varying religious faiths, will be considered law breakers and could face possible fines, deportation, or even imprisonment. If unable to meet the qualifications for registration, which will be administered by a newly formed Soviet-style, centralized organization or religious bureau, these people of faith will be required to keep their beliefs to themselves and will be forbidden to make any public display. They may worship and pray in private, but they will not be allowed to receive foreign missionaries, hand out religious materials, have their own schools or engage in acts of charity.

Many religious faiths will be affected by the new law: the Assemblies of God, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, Lutherans, Evangelicals and most other Protestant faiths. Only registered religious organizations will have the exclusive right to invite foreigners to come and engage in religious activities in Russia.

The new "Politically Correct Rule" will increase government oversight on all religious activities in the country. Inquiries, interrogations, police raids and groundless church closures will likely once again become common place in Russia. While the law will protect the Orthodox teachings of prayers to saints and icons, Christian churches will be denied the right to pray for the sick. Even before the new law was enacted, the Russian authorities attempted to close a charismatic church in Yaroslaval where preaching about healing and prayers for the sick had been taking place. No doubt, such churches will now be swiftly swept away.

Under the new law, any church objecting to military service, promoting evangelizing of children, teaching 'objectionable' doctrine, or engaging in alternative schooling, such as home schooling, could be brought before the courts for committing several vague offenses such as harming the 'morality' or 'health' of citizens, or promoting 'religious dissension', or encouraging 'depraved actions'.

It is too early to tell just how strictly the new religious laws will be enforced, but everything appears to be in place for a chilling return of the repressive ghost of the past. There will be nothing stopping the police from arbitrarily entering a church and closing it down. Foreign missionaries will instinctively be looking over their shoulder, pastors constantly reporting their activities to the state, compassionate people careful not to pray for the sick among them, and children shunned by church leaders who fear being accused of harming the 'morality' of Russia's youth.

Meanwhile, members in the United States Congress are battling over a highly controversial bill, "The Freedom From Religious Freedom Act," that would require the U.S. to withdraw taxpayer subsidies to regimes that persecute religious minorities on a widespread and ongoing basis. If it should pass, the Russian government may suddenly find itself once again haunted by its own repressive ghost of times past, a ghost that they themselves conjured up, a ghost that most certainly the United States will find itself having to choose whether to serve as the exorcist or continue to be the philanthropist.

International Christian Concern is a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that serves as a watchdog and advocate for religious freedom worldwide.

Originally Posted:  October 13, 1997

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