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When the Iron Curtain was dismantled in the
early 1990's and mies. were welcomed
into the crumbling Soviet Union, many observers
feared that the window of opportunity would be
short lived. This fall the parliament of Rus.,
largest of the Soviet republics, passed a law
which President Bor. Yel. signed, effectively
closing that window to the Gospel in Rus.
RESTRICTIVE NEW
LAW
The law restricts activities of all religious
groups who have not been continually present in
the country for 15 years or more. They are not
allowed to hold services, own property, distribute
religious literature or invite foreigners to preach.
[ The New Religious Curtain ]
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Primary driving force behind the law was the
Rus.n Ort. Church which held the
Rus.n people in spiritual bondage for
centuries. Like Rom. Cat.ism, they teach
wafer worship, pray to 'Mary' and maneuver to
dominate the government as a tool to eliminate
the free spreading of the Gospel. During the
communist era many of the Rus.n
Ort.
leaders simply joined forces with the Soviet
security policy (KGB) to root out all Bible
believers.
FOUR RECOGNIZED
RELIGIONS
The new law officially recognizes only four
religious groups: Isl_m, Judaism, Buddhism and
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"Christianity" (Primarily the Rus.n Ort.
brand). Even Rom. Cat.s are not included.
An Associated Press report stated that the
legislation "enshrines Rus.'s conservative
Ort. Church as the country's preeminent
religion." This puts the law in direct violation of
the Rus.n constitution which declares:
"Religious organizations are separated from the
state and equal before the law."
The ink was hardly dry before local provinces
began sending letters to outlawed organizations
canceling their registration. In Noginsk, 30 miles
northwest of Moscow a Ukr.ian Ort.
cathedral was confiscated and given to the
Rus.n Ort. church. Even in far away
Siberia a Lut.an congregations' registration
was revoked. Their adult Bible study groups,
youth education programs, and an aid program
for the poor must now be shut down.
RESRICTIONS
STARTED
The local officials had apparently anticipated
the new federal law and 26 of Rus.'s 89
regions had already passed legislation restricting
"nontradtional" religions before the new law was
signed by Yel. In another Siberian city
Baptist mies. must now have their
sermons reviewed and certified by a
government appointed "translator" before
preaching.
In view of the fact that half the Rus.n people
claim they are Rus.n Ort., but only one
percent attend regularly; it is no mystery why
returning mies. tell of a deep hunger by
the people for spiritual truth.
RUS.N MISTRUST OF
OTH.Y
Most Rus.ns have developed a deep
mistrust of the Ort. leadership who has won
permission from the Kremlin to export oil and
import alcohol, tobacco and lingerie duty
continued on page 3 . . .
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