Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations

The "Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations" is a Russian Law passed in 1997, signed by Boris Yeltsin.

The law would redefine the state's relationship with religion, as Gorbachev had defined in a 1990 law. After the fall of Communism, Gorbachev had given much-needed breathing room to the practice of religion in Russia, whose culture's heart is Eastern Orthodoxy, but had also opened the door indescriminately and generally to the practice of religion. A new law was needed, to preserve Russia against what was considered the corruption of Orthodoxy.

The law was formulated and pushed by the Russian Orthodox Church, secular nationalists, and communists alike, with such determination that though Yeltsin vetoed the bill once, he could not legitimately do so a second time.

Written in the law was the upholding of separation of church and state; that there shall be no state religion. With that in mind, the following definitions and regulations are given:

Definitions

* "religious organizations:" at the level of individual church congregations
* "religious associations:" whole denominations
* "religious groups:" groups without legal status, such as a bible study group

Regulations

* Organizations may only be founded by Russian citizens: "this ostensibly provided for national security."

* All associations must have a religious purpose, including:
** a creed,
** regular worship services,
** the conducting of religious education.: "aimed at parachurch organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ and the Salvation Army."

* No organization may function until they have been registered with the government for 15 years, unless it affiliates with an existing association. During the wait, the following is forbidden:
** public worship services,
** distribution of literature and materials,
** the hiring of foreign clergy.: "this discouraged independent-style and evangelical churches such as Baptists."

* A religious group may be liquidated by the government for any of the following reasons:
** creating an armed militia unit,
** threatening the integrity of the Russian Federation,
** infringing on the health of its citizens,
** restricting its members from leaving the religion,
** encouraging its members to disobey civic duties.

Effects

Religion under the new law became nearly as regulated as it had been in Soviet times, though without the official communist hostility. It did accomplish some expulsion of Western religious work, though it left room for some foreign churches to legitimately register. There had been on the order of 16,000 registered organizations before the passage of the law, and by 2004 there were 22,000. By regulating on grounds common among new, foreign organizations, it made it difficult for them to take root, and it succeeded in promoting and securing a privileged place for the Russian Orthodox Church.

ee also

*Law of the Russian Federation
*Autocracy, Orthodoxy, and National Character
*Freedom of Religion
*Separation of Church and State