Mission Impossible

The Belgorod Regional Duma finally decided to protect the weak souls of its fellow countrymen from the temptations unleashed on the inhabitants of this region by preachers. One of these days, legislators will have to consider in the third reading the bill “On missionary activity in the Belgorod region” proposed by the governor. Its purpose, in short, is to oblige each missionary, before starting his preaching, to obtain voluntary consent from the citizens to whom he addresses his “saving message.” If the preacher wishes to visit a children's institution, he must obtain written permission from the parents.

In fact, it turns out that in a single Belgorod region, missionary work, which is the preaching of religious doctrine to all people, will simply be impossible. Including for Christians who will not be able to fulfill the covenant of Christ, who commanded to “preach the Gospel to every creature,” since this “creature” will first have to be asked for its voluntary consent. Perhaps, if Christ himself were now in the Belgorod region, he would have to acquire a large number of different permits, certificates and documents. Otherwise, he would probably have been brought to administrative responsibility, implying payment of a fine in the amount of 50 to 100 minimum wages.

Director of the Moscow Institute of Religion and Law Anatoly Pchelintsev, in a conversation with a correspondent of the Vremya Novostey newspaper, noted that the Belgorod bill is completely contrary to the Constitution and a number of other federal laws. “I am surprised,” noted Mr. Pchelintsev, “by the position of lawyers and consultants of the Belgorod Duma. One gets the impression that they have not read the Constitution at all. This is a lawlessness that needs to be stopped."

It is noteworthy that the entry into force of the new bill may not only limit the activities of numerous Protestant churches that are actively involved in preaching in Russia, but will also affect the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. After all, its missionary department is located precisely in Belgorod and is headed by Archbishop John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol.

Vladimir TYUSHAGIN