Truth and Action: Religious persecution is being ushered into Russia under the package of the new anti-terrorism laws which will go into effect on July 20, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation which was passed in the Duma, the Russian upper house, almost unanimously on Friday, and in the lower house, the Federation Council, late in June.
Although the Russian Protestant minority—”estimated around 1 percent of the population—prayed, fasted, and sent petitions to President Vladimir Putin,” the President ignored their voices and adopted the measure.
“Most evangelicals—leaders from all seven denominations—have expressed concerns,” Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia and a former Moscow church-planter, told CT. “They’re calling on the global Christian community to pray that Putin can intervene and God can miraculously work in this process.”
Opponents of the measure hope that the legislation will be repealed in court or that elected officials will amend the law.
The proposed laws, considered the country’s most restrictive measures in post-Soviet history, place broad limitations on missionary work, including preaching, teaching, and engaging in any activity designed to recruit people into a religious group.
To share their faith, citizens must secure a government permit through a registered religious organization, and they cannot evangelize anywhere besides churches and other religious sites. The restrictions even apply to activity in private residences and online.
How the legislation will be enforced is yet to be seen, but the religious persecution that will occur is inevitable.
Sergei Ryakhovsky, head of the Protestant Churches of Russia, and several other evangelical leaders called the law a violation of religious freedom and personal conscience in a letter to Putin posted on the Russian site Portal-Credo. The letter reads, in part:
The obligation on every believer to have a special permit to spread his or her beliefs, as well as hand out religious literature and material outside of places of worship and used structures is not only absurd and offensive, but also creates the basis for mass persecution of believers for violating these provisions.
Under Stalin, religious restrictions included the outlawing of all religious activity that was other than Sunday services and only in registered churches. MORE
There are many different ways that governments deal with islam, but they all have one thing in common: The governed infidels always pay for these dealings with the loss of their rights.
Putin shouldn’t treat islam as a religion. And he should think about that cross his mother gave him, that he wears around his neck.
They are all doing God’s plan and don’t even realize it.
The Patriarch of the Orthodox Church is smiling at his newly restored monopoly.
Always remember God is in charge.
Doesn’t the US Government place restrictions on Churches that curtail their religious freedom?
A couple of points I can think of are:
Must apply for a 501a tax status and be approved.
Limits the 1st Amendment religious practice. If religious groups receive federal funding or tax-exempt status, both proselytizing and political activity are limited. Groups that get government money to run services like drug rehabilitation aren’t allowed to proselytize.
Countless zoning laws, rulings on property rights, and restrictions on tax dollar use.
And the Government forces Churches to provide coverage for Abortions, contrary to their beliefs.
ussr usa, “at this point what difference does it make”?
I learned that from the beast.
Sounds like the Democrats way to stop Muslim Terrorism, just shut down all the other voices.