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Conflict between Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Ukraine

UNIATES SEIZE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN WEST UKRAINE WITH SUPPORT OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Interfax, 28 May 2009

A Uniate community led by a priest made an attempt at "violent seizure" of an Orthodox church in the city of Kolomyia in Ivano-Frankovosk province of Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox church reported on Thursday.

Soon after this the city council adopted a resolution concerning the closing of the church of the Annunciation for restoration and the subsequent transfer of the church to a Greek Catholic parish.

In its turn, the Orthodox parish filed a judicial suit requesting that the decisions of the local authorities be found illegal.

Bishop of Ivano-Frankovsk and Kolomyia Panteleimon sent letters on this matter to Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill, Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Vladimir, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church Cardinal Liubomir Guzar, and Uniate Bishop of Kolomyia Nikolai Simkailo.

The press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox church concluded:  "In light of the foregoing the claim of the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church, Liubomir Guzar, of his desire to meet with His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill during his visit to Ukraine 'for a private conversation' seems extremely puzzling.  One wishes to believe that the cardinal is hoping to repent."  (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2009)

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Pentecostals oppose justice ministry council

EVANGELICAL CHURCHES CALL AUTHORITIES TO PAY ATTENTION TO "OUTRAGES" OF SECTOLOGISTS
Slavic Legal Center, 29 May 2009

Evangelical churches from widely scattered regions of Russia have called authorities to pay attention to the "outrages" of sectologists and the publication of slanderous articles directed against believing citizens of Russia, the press service of the Slavic Legal Center reports.

In particular a religious group of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) of the cities of Kirovsk and Apatita in Murmansk province sent a letter in support of the "No to inquisitors!" action with 22 signatures on two sheets.

The letter notes:  "We think that the expansion of the powers of the Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Expert Analysis within the Ministry of Justice of RF and its present membership is a direct step toward incitement of religious strife. In addition, it is state approval of all actions of partisan personalities, the infamous sect fighter Dvorkin and coworkers of centers that have been created in the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox church.

"The flood of slander from television stations and public announcements accompanied by violation of all imaginable norms of legislation, the distribution of pamphlets with extremist calls, and publication of slanderous articlesÑall of which we have personally experienced, while we are citizens of Russia who have thoroughly healthy families and are active in social programs of various kinds.

"We had hoped that at sometime the government would pay attention to these outrages, but instead we see at the head of the expert council and in its membership people who use just these methods in relations with people who think differently than they do."

In the appeal to Russian Minister of Justice A.V. Konovalov the believers request:  "Review the membership and powers of the expert council; remove from membership the scandalous personalities who stir up hysteria and cast doubt on the legality and objectivity of the council's decisions; and co-opt into the membership genuinely secular scholars of religion who have credentials and academic degrees."

In addition, a letter of support of the "No to inquisitors!" action also was sent by the "Word of Life" church of Christians of Evangelical Faith in the city of Strezhevo, Tomsk province (35 signatures on three sheets). The letter notes that the signatures were collected at a prayer meeting and that among the members of the church are teachers, programmers, internet technology specialists, and petroleum engineers.

An appeal to the Russian minister of Justice and a letter in support of the Russia-wide action were received from the "Word of Life" church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of the city of Ulan-Ude, republic of Buriatia. The church collected 158 believers' signatures. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2009)

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Court rules in Adventists' favor

EKATERINBURG COURT ORDERS TAX SERVICE TO RESTORE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST REGISTRATION
Slavic Legal Center, 29 May 2009

An Ekaterinburg court ordered the Administration of the Federal Tax Service for Sverdlovsk province to restore the registration of the church of Seventh-day Adventists in the city of Krasnoturinsk, the press service of the Slavic Legal Center reports.

As a report from the Department of Public Relations and Religious Freedom of the Urals Association states, in November 2007, by decision of the Federal Tax Service, the local congregation of the Seventh-day Adventist church of the city of Krasnoturinsk, Sverdlovsk province, was removed from the Unified State Register of Juridical Persons. The reason was that there was no activity in its bank accounts, or to speak more accurately, there was no bank account at all, so no audit had been submitted to the tax service. What legal consequences did the congregation incur because of this?

The congregation owns a unfinished structure of a house of worship and a parcel of land. When the congregation lost its registration it automatically lost its legal capacity, including the right of ownership of all immovable property. At any moment somebody could present his own claim to have the property returned to him (escheat). In addition, the congregation now could not conduct any kind of activity outside the walls of its own premises in which they held worship services.

The congregation submitted a petition to the court for the restoration of registration and for a ruling that the decision of the Administration of the Federal Tax Service for Sverdlovsk province was illegal.  The interests of the local congregation were represented in court by the director of the Department of Public Relations and Religious Freedom of the Urals Association, attorney V.I. Nichik. As a result of a review of the case in two court sessions on 30 April the court issued a comprehensive decision that the congregation had been illegally excluded from the Unified State Register of Juridical Persons and ordered the tax service for Sverdlovsk province to restore the registration. The court's decision was fulfilled on 15 May and registration was restored.  (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2009)

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Fear of Russian "inquisition" spreads across country

ACTIVITY OF "SECTOLOGISTS" MAY DESTABILIZE RELIGIOUS SITUATION
Slavic Legal Center, 28 May 2009

During a seminar in Saratov devoted to defense of believers' rights, it was stated that the activity of "sectologists" could destabilize the situation in the religious sphere. The practical seminar in Saratov that dealt with critical problems of the activity of religious associations and defense of believer's rights was told that in the provinces the activity of "sectologists" may lead to a destabilization of the situation in the religious sphere, the press service of the Slavic Legal Center reports.

The seminar was held on 26 May 2009. Active participants in this event included the chief editor of the "Religion and Law" journal, distinguished attorney of Russia Anatoly Pchelintsev and representatives of various Christian churches of Saratov and Saratov province, including Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Christians of Evangelical Faith, and Seventh-day Adventists.

In the course of the seminar concern was expressed regarding the activity of members of the para-Orthodox sect of Alexander Dvorkin, to which the Saratov sectologist Alexander Kuzmin belongs. Their statements and publications may lead to disruption of interconfessional peace and to destabilization of the situation in the region as a whole.

At the same time seminar participants stressed that the activity of this destructive sect has facilitated a consolidation of protestant congregations and permitted a more precise definition of their place and role in society. In particular, after the antisectarian proclamations of Kuzmin, which created false and deceitful stereotypes of non-Orthodox churches, a consultative council of heads of protestant churches of Saratov province was created for defense of the rights of evangelical congregations.

A majority of representatives of Christian churches in attendance have supported the Russia-wide continuing "No to inquisitors!" action.

We recall that on 22 April 2009, an open-ended action was started in Russia against the presence of radical "sectologists" in the new membership of the Council for Conducting State Religious Expert Analysis within the Russian Ministry of Justice; it was called "No to inquisitors!" The action has been conducted on the initiative of the Institute of Religion and Law. The foundation of the action is a collection of signatures under an open appeal to Russian Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov, copies of which will be sent to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. We invite to cooperation with and participation in this action the academic and religious communities of the whole country, as well as public figures, attorneys, and rights defenders. Our voices and opinions will be published on our web site. The open appeal to Russian Minister of Justice A.V. Konovalov should and may be sent directly both from religious organizations and academic centers and from ordinary citizens of Russia regardless that their activity will be evaluated by the "inquisitors," Dvorkin and his assistants. In addition, membership in this council within the Russian Ministry of Justice has already been used and will be used by the "sectologists" for exerting influence on bureaucrats and law enforcement agencies and propaganda of their "antisectarian" demands on the illegal basis of restricting the activity of "nontraditional" religious organizations in Russia.

The "No to inquisitors!" action has demonstrated the possibility of openly and publicly declaring one's protest against the effort of the "inquisitors" to save our souls by force against our will, and against the discrediting of secular science and religious expert analysis itself, as well as against the clericalization of society and the destruction of the bases of a law-based and secular state in Russia.

We recall that by an order of the Russian Ministry of Justice of 3 March 2009 there was formed the Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Expert Analysis within the Ministry of Justice of RF, which has acquired the full powers of the Soviet-era Council for Religious Affairs. Its membership includes, instead of recognized scholars and experts, specifically the following: Alexander Dvorkin, head of the sectological St. Irenaeus of Lyons Center; Alexander Kuzmin, director of the Saratov division of Dvorkin's sectology center and author of material on which was based an antisectarian leaflet that was declared by a court to be extremist; Evgeny Mukhtarov, a Yaroslavl journalist and sectologist; Russian Orthodox priest Lev Semenov, an associate of Dvorkin's center, and Andrei Vasilchenko, a Yaroslavl sectologist who is a specialist in German fascism and author of a number of popular books on the history of the Third Reich and one of the founders along with Evgeny Mukhtarov in the 90s of a nationalistic organization, the "League of Patriotic Youth."

The "No to inquisitors!" public action will be conducted until such time as scholars, attorneys, and believers have achieved their goal. Support the open appeal to the Russian Minister of Justice A.V. Konovalov and show that there is a civil society in Russia. (tr. by PDS, posted 28 May 2009)

For related information see article:  Notorious "anti-cultists" on new "Inquisition", by Geraldine Fagan, Forum 18 News Service, 27 May 2009

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Pentecostals protest Orthodox diocese's hostility

APPEAL OF PASTORS OF "WORD OF LIFE" CHURCHES OF SARATOV AND SARATOV PROVINCE

To His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill

From pastors of "Word of Life" churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith of city of Saratov and Saratov province

Your Holiness

In our open letter we appeal to you for wise judgment with regard to the situation that has developed in our region.

Over the past several days, in churches of the Saratov diocese of the Russian Orthodox church leaflets have been distributed with falsehood to the effect that "at the present time on the territory of the city of Saratov the 'Experience the power of change' action is being conducted, which is organized by the Saratov division of the neo-Pentecostal sect of the 'Word of Life.' " We were given the leaflet by a housekeeper of one of the churches and she was authorized by the priest.

In the local news media there have appeared a number of intimidating news stories in which, inter alia, representatives of the diocese gave interviews depicting our churches in an extremely false and caricatured context. On the official web site of the Saratov diocese there also was published an informational letter where it is maintained that "Word of Life" is one of the organizers of the project.

It should be noted that the "Word of Life" evangelical churches of Saratov and Saratov province have nothing to do with either the organization of this project or with its financing, as the leaflet states and as has been shown by local TV channels.

Thus, with sincere regret we take note of the action of distributing false information besmirching the good name of evangelical protestant churches of the city. The actions of the local diocese of the Russian Orthodox church facilitate the igniting of interconfessional tension and the promotion of an atmosphere of intolerance and distrust among religions.

Such actions are condemned by sacred scripture and they completely contradict the basic provisions of the social doctrine of the Russian Orthodox church set forth in the "Bases for the social doctrine of RPTs." Here is a quotation from the doctrine:  "Without assuming the direct goal of conversion of everybody to Orthodoxy as a condition for cooperation, the church affirms that joint actions of humanitarianism will lead its collaborators and onlookers to a knowledge of the Truth and will help them to maintain and restore fidelity to God-given moral standards and stir them up to peace, harmony, and righteousness. . . ." (Bases of the social doctrine of RPTs, M., 2001, p. 10).

Your Holiness, we request an attentive review of the situation that has developed and also your help in establishing a good dialogue between the Saratov diocese of the Russian Orthodox church and the evangelical churches of Saratov and Saratov province, for a peaceful resolution of the complex situations that occasionally involve conflict.

We trust, we pray, and we hope.

May the grace of Christ the Savior strengthen you in all of your labors.

Bishop Pavel Taranov
Pastor Maxim Chepurov
Pastor Sergei Marinin
Pastor Dmitry Taranov
Pastor Vladimir Samoilov

(tr. by PDS, posted 27 May 2009)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 27 May 2009

Related article: Justice council members threaten Pentecostals ,  May 12, 2009

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Siberian evangelicals protest expert council

APPEAL OF THE COUNCIL OF LEADERS OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA) TO RUSSIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE A.V. KONOVALOV
27 May 2009

To Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation,
A.V. Konovalov, State councilor of Russian federation class 1

Copies:
To Russian President D.A. Medvedev,
Chairman of Russian government V.V. Putin

Esteemed Alexander Vladimirovich

The Consultative Council of Leaders of Protestant Churches of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) express our perplexity with respect to the Expert Council for Conduct of State Religious Expert Analysis within the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, which was formed by an order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia of 3 March 2009. Several members of the expert council, specifically A.L. Dvorkin, A.V. Kuzmin, E.O. Mukhtarov, A.V. Vasilchenko, and L. Semenov, are famous for their radical attitude toward all non-Orthodox confessions.

These persons have frequently and publicly pronounced slander and abuse toward individual churches and whole evangelical movements, which have a centuries-long history in Russia and the whole world, displaying thereby their incompetence in religious studies questions and absolute tactlessness in interconfessional relations.

We consider that the presence of these persons in the expert council reflects negatively on the work of the whole council and on the objectivity and competence of decisions taken by the council. Also we express our concern that the inclusion in the membership of the expert council of famous sectologists will serve as a model for the formation of expert councils in ministries of justice of component elements of the Russian federation. That is, instead of independent experts and academic scholars of religion, local radically minded sectologists will be drawn into the membership of expert councils in the regions, which will evoke a new wave of public indignation and protests in the provinces.

On the basis of the foregoing, we ask you to remove from the membership of the expert council Alexander Leonidovich Dvorkin, Alexander Valerievich Kuzmin, Evgeny Olegovich Mukhtarov, Andrei Viacheslavovich Vasilchenko, and Lev Semenov.

Esteemed Alexander Vladimirovich, we place our hopes on your understanding and participation in the resolution of the situation that has developed and we thank you for your cooperation in strengthening interconfessional dialogue and the preservation of peace and tolerance.

V.V. Fedoseenko, director of "Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians"
M.E. Pilipenko, director of "Association of Churches of Evangelical Christians"
D.N. Petrov, Regional Association of Russian Churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith

(tr. by PDS, posted 27 May 2009)

Russian original posted on site of Slavic Legal Center, 27 May 2009

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Baptists suffer property discrimination

VLADIKAVKAZ BAPTIST CHURCH CANNOT OWN ITS BUILDING
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 26 May 2009

An arbitration court on the Northern Caucasus federal district has left without satisfaction an appeal against the city administration of Vladikavkaz, which refused to turn over the House of Prayer (Dom molitvy) on Tengin Street to the ownership of the "Grace" Evangelical Christian-Baptist (EKhB) church, which is a member of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the press service of the Slavic Legal Center reports.

The ruling by the Federal Arbitration Court of the North Caucasus district of 22 May 2009 states in particular:  "To leave without change the decision and/or ruling of the appeals court and the petition for annulment without satisfaction."

We recall that the Committee for Administration of City Property of Vladikavkaz refused to transfer the House of Prayer to the ownership of the "Grace" Evangelical Christian-Baptist church, inasmuch as it did not consider it to be a religious building.

On 11 January 2009 the Arbitration Court of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alaniia issued the decision to rule the actions of the Committee for Administration of City Property of Vladikavkaz not to be in conformity with the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations" (part 3 of article 21). The court ordered the city administration of Vladikavkaz to transfer the House of Prayer to the ownership of the EKhB church. In March 2009 the Committee for Administration of City Property of Vladikavkaz appealed the decision of the republican Arbitration Court.

Back in September 2008 the presbyter of the EKhB church, A.D. Samoshkin, sent a request to the city administration of Vladikavkaz to transfer the building and parcel of land to the congregation's ownership. The church cited the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious association," according to which the transfer to the ownership of religious organizations buildings that function for worship purposes and lands that are associated with them and other property with religious significance, which are owned by the state or municipalities, is to be executed without financial charge.

In November 2008 the chairman of the Committee for Administration of City Property of Vladikavkaz, M.A. Mildzikhov, refused to transfer to the church ownership of the House of Prayer on the basis that the building that was occupied by the congregation on the basis of a contract of 2000 is not a worship building. The official also noted that the church was allegedly engaged in income producing activity, namely publishing activity. The EKhB church appealed the administration's refusal.

In an annulment petition the Committee for Administration of City Property of Vladikavkaz submitted unreliable information claiming that the House of Prayer had been originally erected as a residence, although it was nationalized in 1924 as church property; it was built in 1912 and Greek Christians worshipped in it.

The Baptist church has used the building on Tengin Street as a House of Prayer since 1945; the Ordzhonikidze city executive committee allocated it to the church for perpetual and free use by contracts in 1945 and 1957. The building has always been used for religious purposes. As noted by the presbyter of the EKhB church, A.D. Samoshkin, the church received the building more than sixty years ago in dilapidated condition and the congregation renovated it. Worship services are regularly conducted in the House of Prayer, and on Sundays there is a Sunday school for children and adult parishioners. In addition, according to the presbyter, the church does not engage in either publishing or any other income-producing activity.

The minister of the republic of North Ossetia-Alania for nationality affairs, T. Kasaev, expressed support for the EKhB church. In his response, based on the decision of the republican arbitration court, Kasaev reported that the EKhB church actually is engaged exclusively in performance of religious rituals and it neither has its own publishing agency nor engages in commercial activity. And the house of worship is equipped and used only for performance of religious rituals. As the minister emphasized, Baptists of Ossetia observed in 2008 their 130th anniversary. In December 2008 the Commission on Questions of Religious Associations of the government of the republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in reviewing the appeal of the church, came to the conclusion that "the property in dispute should be transferred to the ownership of the 'Grace' EKhB church."

At the same time, the position of the city administration of Vladikavkaz has led to the paradoxical situation that the House of Prayer building, which always has been a church building and was allocated by the government for worship purposes suddenly, following the request to transfer it to ownership, turns out to be a "non-worship" building. Externally, this building has the appearance of a church facility in which there are no living quarters; it also is not a monument of history and culture. Therefore the actions of the city administration of Vladikavkaz seem most likely to be an intentional and invalid attempt to subject the Baptist church to discrimination. (tr. by PDS, posted 28 May 2009)

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