Law enforcement agencies are in favor of introducing the position of regimental priest

Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov proposed to introduce the post of regimental priest in the army. At a meeting of the board of the Prosecutor General's Office, V. Ustinov said that this measure would help fight crime and hazing. "Yes, it is possible to create a military police, to strengthen the legislation, but one cannot cope with this (hazing) by force," the prosecutor general said. To the suggestion that the army was not ready for the introduction of the institution of regimental clergy, V. Ustinov objected: "So it means that it is ready to steal and beat, but not ready to restore the moral foundations?"

The idea of ​​introducing the institution of military priests in the army was supported by the Main Military Prosecutor's Office. On February 6, the chief military prosecutor, Colonel General of Justice Alexander Savenkov, speaking at a meeting of a committee of the Federation Council, said: “Already this week, by Friday (that is, by February 10. - Ed.), the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office will submit a bill on the introduction of the institution of military priests in the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

On February 7, Colonel-General Nikolai Reznik, head of the Main Directorate of Educational Work of the RF Armed Forces, said in an interview with an Interfax correspondent that Patriarch Alexy II had already agreed to train a group of regimental priests.

"The leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is grateful to Alexy II for his agreement to organize the training of a group of military priests to perform pastoral service in the troops," the general noted. organizations in our state.

The idea of ​​creating an institution of regimental priests was approved by representatives of the Union of Orthodox Citizens.

Sources

• The Attorney General proposed to restore the post of regimental priest in the army // Pravoslavie.ru. 2006. February 3.
• The Chief Military Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation supports the idea of ​​the presence of priests in the troops // Interfax-religion. 2006. February 6.
• The Russian power structures are starting to study the issue of introducing the institution of regimental priests // There. February 7th.
• Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture at school, military priests in the army and Orthodox TV programs on nationwide TV channels - this is the most important National project for saving youth from moral savagery // United Fatherland. 2006. February 7.