Amendments May Restrict Christian Services

(ANS) – Time may be running out for non-traditional religious groups in Russia to carry out church meetings in stadiums, cinemas and other cultural buildings. According to a report of the official news agency INTERFAX, the Russian Federation State Duma is preparing a series of amendments to the Federal Law “On freedom of conscience.” The reports states: “In a short time the representatives of sects and other ‘non-traditional’ Russian religious organizations may lose their right to perform church services in stadiums, cinemas and other cultural buildings.” A member of the Expert Council of the Committee reported to “Interfax” on Thursday, October 14, that “the State Duma Committee on Social and Religion Organizations is preparing amendments to the Federal Law ‘On freedom of conscience and religious organizations.’ ” The Agency source did not exclude the possibility that one of the amendments could concern controlling the activities of religious organizations in accordance with a recently adopted law designed to oppose extremism in the Russian Federation.