Russian Orthodox Leaders Incensed At Yeltsin He Rejected Bill Favoring Their Church, Calling It An Illegal Curb On Religious Freedom

Russia’s Orthodox Church warned Boris Yeltsin on Thursday that his rejection of a bill restricting ‘nontraditional religions” - evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism included - threatens the very structure of Russian society.

Debate over the Russian Orthodox-sponsored bill, strongly opposed by U.S. lawmakers and the Vatican, threatens to open a rift between the president and Patriarch Alexy II, whose church is the dominant religion in Russia and strongly backed Yeltsin’s re-election bid last summer.

Yeltsin refused to sign the bill earlier this week, calling it an unconstitutional threat to religious freedom. He sent it back to Parliament with a suggestion to try again.

But leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church demanded Thursday that Parliament send the measure back to Yeltsin as is. If anything, one senior church official said, the bill does not go far enough.

Referring to religious sects and cults that are relative newcomers to Russia, Metropolitan Kirill told reporters: “I am deeply convinced that the law is unable to restrict the activity of these sects … and I, personally, deeply regret it.”

The measure would give special standing to the Russian Orthodox Church, recognizing its unique heritage in shaping Russian history and culture, and would also pledge “respect” for Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other “traditional” religions.

All other religious groups would have to register with the government in order to own property or conduct public worship, and could not do so until they had been in the country for 15 years.

So while the Orthodox church and most Russian legislators back the bill, it has drawn strong opposition from Pope John Paul II and the United States, which has threatened to cut aid to Russia if it becomes law.

Orthodox leaders argued that the Roman Catholic Church would face no restrictions, because it could prove 15 years’ presence in Russia. But that did not mollify Catholic leaders, who had expressed alarm at the bill and relief at Yeltsin’s rejection of it.