#6063
#7
Kommersant
February 6, 2002
Litmus Test for Religion
Deputy Chuyev takes freedom of conscience a step further
By Pavel Korobov
(therussianissues.com)
Alexander Chuyev, deputy chairman of the Duma Committee for Public Associations and Religious Organizations, unveiled his draft bill "On Traditional Religious Organizations in the Russian Federation" when he met journalists yesterday. Should it be enacted, religion will be taught in schools, government-run television channels will show religious programs free of charge and traditional religious denominations will be exempt from taxes.
According to Chuyev, he has built his draft on the existing law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations." It defines four types of traditional religions. First - a denomination would be able to claim the status of a traditional religious organization if it has been in existence for at least 50 years and unites at least one million worshippers. A denomination operating for at least 50 years and uniting at least 100,000 followers would be given the status of "traditional religious organization of an ethnic group." "A historical traditional religious organization" would have to be in operation for at least 80 years, but the draft does not say how many followers it must have. And, finally, foreign denominations recognized at home as an inseparable part of the historical, religious and cultural heritage would be given the status of "representative of a foreign traditional religious organization." The embassy of the country concerned would be asked to issue a letter of recommendation confirming inseparability.
Status would be granted by a federal commission in support of traditional religions, which would include five members appointed by the State Duma, five nominated by the Federation Council and ten appointed by the president.
Deputy Chuyev maintains that the new law should provide for mandatory religious education and that Scripture will be taught as it is interpreted by traditional religions. The draft also calls on government-run television and radio channels to provide free airtime to religious organizations. Traditional denominations and their non-commercial structures would be exempt from profit tax and value-added tax.
The draft suggests that government agencies and traditional religious organizations conclude agreements to make it easier for the Church to fight child homelessness and care for the elderly and the disabled. It also says the property of traditional religious organizations taken away under court rulings should be returned to them.
The architects of the bill also have good news for the members of the proposed commission in support of traditional religions: their salaries would match those of federal ministers.
According to Chuyev, President Putin has given his backing to the draft albeit only in verbal form so far.
The existing law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations" passed in 1997 and amended in 2000 is far more liberal than Chuyev's draft. The state's priorities in its relations with religions are set out only in its preamble. It says the two houses of Parliament have passed the law on the assumption that the Russian Federation is a secular country. They recognize the Orthodox Church's special role in Russian history, but they also respect Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other religions as an integral part of the historical heritage of the peoples of Russia. The law does not mention any particular tax concessions, but it does say "the state regulates the provision of tax and other concessions to religious organizations and gives them financial, material and other assistance." The law does not impose a timeframe on the registration of religious organizations, nor does it provide for the establishment of a special body to register them. It also does not provide for a special registration procedure concerning the representatives of foreign religious organizations.
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