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)

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Source: Voice of America

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