How the Church Can Point the Vol. If the Baltic countries, and other new states in the former Communist world, cannot find a peaceful resolution to this question, all that they have worked for, including advances made by the church, may be lost. Ethnic strife is a serious obstacle and must be overcome. Yet the Church can and indeed must lead the way in lessening, rather than heightening, ethnic tensions.
Soviet leaders bear part of the responsibility for fueling ethnic hostilities in the Baltic states.
After seizing power at the end of World War II, they supported the influx of a large number of Russian-speaking immigrants, which deeply alienated the indigenous population. Officially, the Soviet constitution proclaimed freedom of religion, yet believers were harassed and discriminated against at every turn. Officially, the Soviet Union was democratic, with elections held regularly. In reality, citizens had no choice but to vote Communist. This constant contradiction between word and practice extended into the realm of ethnic policy.