Yeltsin rejects bill to restrict religious worship
July 22, 1997
Web posted at: 6:52 p.m. EDT (2252 GMT)In this story:
MOSCOW (CNN) -- Calling his action "a very difficult decision," President Boris Yeltsin rejected a bill Tuesday that would have restricted many religious groups in Russia, which have gained huge numbers of converts since the fall of Communism.
Among the denominations that would have been affected by the bill were evangelical Christians, Mormons and Roman Catholics. It was criticized by the Vatican and U.S. Senate, which threatened to cut off aid to Russia if it became law.
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But the bill was enormously popular with the powerful Russian Orthodox Church, which resents an influx into Russia of what it considers "foreign" religions, and in the Russian parliament, where both houses approved it by overwhelming margins.
Yeltsin's action sends the bill back to parliament, which can overhaul it or let it lapse. The president said he would be willing to consider an amended proposal.
Backers sought protection from cults
The measure's supporters said Russia needs to protect itself from pseudo-religions and cults, such as Aum Shinri Kyo, some of whose members waged deadly sarin gas attacks in Tokyo subways.
But in rejecting the measure, Yeltsin said, "Many provisions of the law infringe on constitutional rights and freedoms of individuals and citizens, establish inequality between different confessions and violate Russia's international obligations."
Most important, he said, the law could become the basis for religious feuds inside Russia, whose 1993 constitution guarantees freedom of worship.
"There can be no democratic society," Yeltsin said, "where the interests of any minorities among our citizens are not protected."
The law officially would have recognized the central role of the Orthodox Church in Russian history and culture and pledged "respect" to Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other "traditional" religious.
Religions would face 'probationary period'
Other religions would face a "probationary period" to prove they had officially existed in Russia for 15 years -- or wait another 15 years before they could be registered. Until then, religious groups could not worship publicly, print literature, open schools or own property.
"It would make it nearly impossible for any group except those groups which were acceptable to the Communist government before Glasnost," Mormon Mission director Don Jarvis said. "Those would be the only groups that can work here."
Correspondent Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.
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