From: austin@apm.magadan.su (Austin P.Mohrbacher)
Subject: priest observes
Reply-To: austin@apm.magadan.su
Organization: Catholic Church of the Nativity of Jesus
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 92 23:42:19 +1200

I am not out to throw any mud at atheists. My arm would get too tired
because they are all around me.  I have been living in Magadan, Russia,
for over a year.  I am the only Catholic priest for thousands of miles.  I
am living in a  land that professed atheism for the 73 years, a country
that has spent more money in the pursuit and promotion of atheism than
any other in any time.
I thought that some of you might be interested in hearing from a
professional observer how the marriage of atheism and communism has worked
out.  It has been unhappy event for the well intentioned atheist and pure
hell for a high percentage of the Russian people.
I am not proud of the darker chapters in the history of our Catholic
church: the inquistion, Galileo, the lives of some of the church leaders.
On the other hand I am indeed very happy about the good results that my
religious tradition has produced.
I like what my Jewish ancestors proclaimed to the world. Much of my
good healthy outlook on life comes as a result of reading their holy
scripture.  They had their doubts about the existence of God.  They
wrestled with the problem of an unseen, all good and loving God. I
wrestled along with them. Like many of them, I have come to  faith in God
and my experience tells me that God exists.
I like the teachings of the most renowned, enlightened leader that the
world has ever had, Jesus, who was born, raised and died as a Jew. I see
synagogues and churchs as monuments to the goodness and strength of people
who have found happiness in these two traditions. I like the example that
my good Jewish and Christian friends give me. I am proud of all the
goodness and humanity that have shown forth in their histories.
There is no perfect path in history.  Goodness gets messed up by even
well intentioned people, not to say anything about those whose are actions
are downright evil and harmful to society.  What happened in this land
where I am now living, brings tears to my eyes, shocks and horrifies me.
Magadan was the center of the slave labor system.  If my memory is correct
10 million died in the Nazi terror.  In this area people speak of 65
million  as being the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, the marriage of Communism and atheism  did not produce good
fruit.  In the name of atheism and progress people were forced, tortured
and killed.  The effects linger on. The people continue to suffer and
daily I meet people who have been robbed of all hope.  Communism
and with it atheism is not seen as enlightment but as deception and fraud.
When the Nazi were defeated, they were driven out.  A clean sweep
ocurred with new people on the top and throughout the system.  Not so in
Russia.  The same ruthless thugs are still in control.  Hats have changed
but the rulers are the same.  There are some exceptions but few.
There are some philosophies and religious traditions that do better
than others.  We ought to dialogue with an open mind.  I do it all the
time. We need to humbly approach a subject of supreme importance, the
existence of God, and we need to be promoting goodness and kindness so
that people can find hope.
If a kind hearted atheist reads this, who has $700,000 to donate to a
worthy cause, the Orthodox Bishop here is great need.  He has started two
buildings to help the people materially and spiritually.  Work has
stopped.  No money. Magadan should have 50 Orthodox churches in it to
service it large community.  It has only one.