DATE= 10/7/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220947
TITLE=RUSSIA RELIGION (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED AT MOSCOW'S FAMED GORKY
PARK TO PROTEST A CONTROVERSIAL NEW RUSSIAN LAW CONCERNING
RELIGION. AS PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS, CHRISTIAN
MISSIONARIES SAY THE LAW HAS ALREADY TRIGGERED A WAVE OF
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.
TEXT: /// SFX OF SINGING, THEN UNDER TO...///
THE PROTEST SEEMED MORE LIKE A RELIGIOUS SERVICE. MEMBERS OF
MANY FAITHS CONSIDERED NON-TRADITIONAL IN RUSSIA -- FROM THE
"HARE KRISHNAS" TO "JEWS FOR JESUS" -- JOINED TOGETHER TO SING,
PRAY, AND LISTEN TO IMPASSIONED CALLS FROM THE CLERGY TO FIGHT
AGAINST THEIR COMMON ENEMY.
IN THIS CASE, THE ENEMY IS THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE COUNTRY'S
LARGEST FAITH, THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. AT THE CHURCH'S
URGING, PARLIAMENT OVERWHELMING APPROVED A RELIGION BILL LAST
MONTH. CRITICS SAY IT SHARPLY LIMITS THE RIGHTS OF WHAT ARE
TERMED -- FOREIGN RELIGIONS.
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SIGNED THE BILL, OVER STRONG OBJECTIONS
FROM FOREIGN CAPITALS, INCLUDING WASHINGTON AND THE VATICAN.
PROPONENTS SAY THE LAW IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT RUSSIAN ORTHODOXY
AGAINST THE POST-SOVIET INVASION OF FOREIGN MISSIONARIES AND
CULTS. BUT REPRESENTATIVES OF NON-TRADITIONAL FAITHS ARGUE THE
LAW HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A RETURN TO SOVIET-ERA REPRESSION.
SWEDISH MISSIONARY CHRISTIAN OKREM OF THE "WORD OF LIFE" CHURCH
CALLED THE TREND DISTURBING.
/// OKREM ACT ///
WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, THIS LAST MONTH, IS A LONG STEP
BACKWARD WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THIS
COUNTRY. ABSOLUTELY. THE NEW LAW IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE
WE HAD 10-YEARS AGO IN THE SOVIET UNION.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// TALK AT THE RALLY WAS ABOUT A RUSSIAN POLICE RAID ON
A UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL LAST WEEK OUTSIDE MOSCOW.
AUTHORITIES SEIZED THE CHURCH AND NEARBY BUILDINGS IN WHAT IS
BEING DESCRIBED AS PART OF A BATTLE BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN AND
UKRAINIAN CHURCHES. /// END OPT ///
AMERICAN PROTESTANT MISSIONARY KEVIN MC NULTY OF THE "CALVARY
FELLOWSHIP" SAYS THE SHIFT IN ATTITUDE TOWARD FOREIGN FAITHS
CAUGHT MANY BY SURPRISE.
/// MC NULTY ACT ///
LAST WEEK OUR CHURCH IN TOMSK CALLED US AND SAID THAT
OVERNIGHT (OVER ONE NIGHT) THE CITY REVOKED HIS LICENSE
TO OPERATE, TO REND THE BUILDING. THAT IS THE THIRD
INCIDENT IN A WEEK WE HAVE HEARD OF OUR CHURCHES BEING
JEOPARDIZED BY LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENTS.
/// END ACT ///
/// SFX OF SINGING, THEN FADE UNDER TO... ///
MANY IN THE CROWD HELD SIGNS AND BANNERS. ONE READ --
PROTESTANTS ARE RUSSIANS, TOO -- ANOTHER ASKED -- WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO FREEDOM?
MOST DEMONSTRATORS INTERVIEWED SAID THEIR BEST HOPE WAS RUSSIA'S
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT MIGHT OVERTURN THE RELIGION LAW. IF NOT,
THEY SAID MISSIONARIES MIGHT BE FORCED TO LEAVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF/RAE
07-Oct-97 1:21 PM EDT (1721 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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