Is it possible to criticize the Church?

13 February 2014, the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) published the results survey on attitudes towards the Church. The survey was conducted in early February 2014, 1500 respondents from 100 settlements took part in it RF.

Answering a closed question, 54% of respondents noted that the ROC has a positive impact on public life countries, 4% noted negative influence of the Church, according to 19% of respondents The ROC does not affect public life at all.

63% of respondents answered yes to the question about trust in the Church, 15% do not trust the Church.

criticism The Russian Orthodox Church has recently been noticed in the media by 19% of respondents, 76% did not encounter any critical statements about the Church.

Among points of criticism are named: enrichment of the Church (3%), misbehavior of clergy (2%), Church intervention in politics (1%). Besides noted separately conflicts related to the personality of the patriarch (1%) and Andrei Kuraev (1%).

Right 33% of participants recognize atheists to criticize the Church survey, 40% believe such criticism is unacceptable. 36% believe that one should not criticize the Church and from within, only 25% believe that members Churches can criticize it. Participants in the survey are especially harsh in their refusal to the right to criticize the Church to its ministers: 49% of respondents believe that the clergy have no right to criticize the Russian Orthodox Church and only 24% allow such an opportunity for them.

Sources

• Is it permissible to criticize the ROC? To whom? And why? // FOM. February 13, 2014