Evening star., 1941-10-04

will hear from the churches on this
subject. 1t is likely that the Presi-
dents statement, instead of allaying
the opposition of church groups
toward Russia, will call forth pro-
tests from religious leaders and
church groups which are scheduled
to meet in the near future.
The President, at press confer
ence this week, said that article 124
of the Soviet constitution protects
religion, as we'll as the right to
propagandize against it. He added
that this is virtually the same rule
as that applying in the United
States. The President made this
assertion when asked to comment
upon the revelation that Polish
Catholic Church and a synagogue
are to be opened in Moscow for use
of Polish volunteers joining the Rus
sian Army.
Church spokesmen regarded this
statement as an ill-advised attempt
to 'whitewash" the Soviet in the
face of an anti-religious campaign
officially conducted by the Russian
government, campaign which, they
say, is common knowledge to every
student of Russian affairs. They
point out that article 124 of the
Soviet constitution, while theoret-
ically granting freedom of worship.
has never been applied in practice,
while the provision allowing free
dom of anti-religious propaganda
has been applied in full force by the
Communist party through its affil-
late. the League of the Militant
Goddess.
Anti-Religious Propaganda.
While religious leaders acknowl-
edge that the Soviet government has
soft-pedaled its drive on religion
since the outbreak of the war with
Germany, they point to the fact
that, prior to that time the leader
OF the League of the Militant God
less, Yaraslovsky, had boasted that
anti-religious propaganda had con-
slderably increased throughout Rus
sla during the previous year. He
attributed this increased activity to
the direct control which the Com
munist party has over the work OF
the league. Yaraslovsky announced
that the league had 3,450 1872 enrolled
members at the end of 1910, as
against 2,292,036 members in 1899
He said that during 1910 there
were 9,698 anti-religious discussion
groups, 5000 anti-religious seminars
and $4,000 anti-religious lectures
throughout Russia.
But more important than the
anti-God propagandists. according
to church spokesman, is the fact
that numerous priests and clergy
men have been exiled, religious
education for children in more than
groups of five is forbidden, the Bible
cannot be distributed and many
churches and synagogues have
been converted into anti-religious
museums or otherwise turned over
to the state.
All of this, in the opinion of
religious leaders. is proof that article
l24 of the Soviet constitution has
| never been put into effect.
But church leaders realize. at the
same time, that the anti-God cam
palgn has not been successful In
turning the Russian masses away
from religion. They believe that if
| the restrictions against religion were
removed by the Soviet government
the development would be welcomed
by the Russian people. Church
leaders would welcome some definite
assurance from Stain that freedom
of religion will be proclaimed after
the war.
Freedom of religion, according to
some leaders, would involve six
points: Cd Liberty of conscience
(2) liberty of religious assembly;
CD liberty to distribute the Bible;
"a liberty to give religious instruc-
tion; 80 restoration of church build
ings to congregations; 80 release Of
imprisoned and exiled priests and
pastors. Others would probably add
to these points the cessation of anti
religious propaganda and freedom to
speak and write in favor of religion
Concordat With Russia Urged.
Early this month the London
Catholic Herald urged that Great
Britain and the United States foster
a concordat between the Vatican
| apd Coyiet Pnceio onJ yorad;cta