Religion

News

Russian Church concerned about the probability of religious minorities' "dictatorship" in Europe

Lille, May 27, Interfax - Archpriest Georgy Ryabykh, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, urges European religious leaders to pursue protection of their believers' rights at the legislative level to offset the dominant influence of new religious movements.

"Sometimes, we can even witness the minorities' dictatorship. They demand more rights and benefits for themselves than the major religions have in the public sector in many European countries," Fr. Georgy said at a meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders in Lille, France.

According to him, today's new religious movements use the "ultraliberal" law applicable to religious sector to wage a war on traditional religions. However, Fr. Georgy believes that "the freedom of conscience and tolerance do not mean indifference."

"Certainly, personal freedom to change religion should be respected. But we can support no such deliberate strategies aimed at conversion through manipulating people's conscience," Fr. Georgy said.

According to him, "many world cultural concepts lack respect to the existing religious balance, both in the world and in a separate community; they fail to demand fair missionary methods."

Fr. Georgy urged the representatives of traditional European religions to highlight his important statement in their oral and written addresses to people.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Memorial chapel restored at Russian cemetery in Port Arthur 02 September 2010, 16:09
• Russian Church collected over $3 million for fire victims 02 September 2010, 13:19
• Orthodox parishes abroad have to adapt to local traditions 01 September 2010, 17:21
• Patriarch Kirill wishes Russians spiritual strength in standing for national interests 01 September 2010, 15:44
• President Rahmon urges Tajik women not to wear hijabs 01 September 2010, 15:18
• Lenin's monument presented to Ukrainian Greek-Catholics 01 September 2010, 15:01
• Kazakhstan resident who wanted to repeat Christ's crucifixion taken off the cross by the police 01 September 2010, 13:44
• Over 5 thsd people came to the first patriarchal prayer for new school year at Christ the Savior Cathedral 31 August 2010, 15:09
• Russian Emergencies Ministry will teach church representatives to extend relief assistance in emergency situations 31 August 2010, 12:36
• Swiss theologian became an Orthodox 31 August 2010, 11:23
• Moscow needs about 600 new Orthodox churches - Patriarch Kirill 30 August 2010, 15:17
• Last member of Wahabi gang sentenced in Ulyanovsk 30 August 2010, 15:12
• Moscow artist presented icon made of roses to Patriarch Kirill 30 August 2010, 12:25
• Patriarch Kirill consecrates icon on Kremlin tower 30 August 2010, 11:17
• ‘Missing’ Hudamedia Islamic company employee confesses to Dagestani police 30 August 2010, 10:03
• Georgian Patriarch ready to share church lands with population 30 August 2010, 10:02
• Alexandrian Patriarch to celebrate the Assumption services in North Caucasus 27 August 2010, 16:51
• Russian Orthodox Church, DOSAAF to sign cooperation agreement 27 August 2010, 15:30
• Members of a sect in the Urals supposedly burnt wings on the back of a three-year old boy 27 August 2010, 14:03
• Islam is adapted to modern world, head of Russia's Mufti Council believes 27 August 2010, 10:48
• Orthodox church to be built in Beslan to commemorate victims killed by terrorists 26 August 2010, 16:44
• Russia has a Jewish population of one million – Jewish federation 26 August 2010, 16:22
• Caucasus peoples reject Wahhabism - Investigative Committee 26 August 2010, 12:56
• Kremlin superintendant believes to give permission to concert on Red Square Patriarchate's opinion should be considered 26 August 2010, 12:20
• Svetlana Medvedeva visits Cannes church where Great Duke Nikolay Romanov is buried 26 August 2010, 11:41
• Tajik president urges countrymen to call children back from foreign religious schools 26 August 2010, 10:31
• Gays to protest with opposition activists in Moscow 25 August 2010, 18:32
• Religious figures favour establishment of conscience police in Russia 25 August 2010, 18:23
• Church most trusted institutions in Moldavia - poll 25 August 2010, 17:29
• Alexandrian Patriarch to spend his vacations in Pyatigorsk 24 August 2010, 17:49

Other news