Evening star., 1941-10-05
ChurchFreedonl
Basic Policy,
Soviet Asserts
Foes of u. S. Aid
Stirred Dispute,
Spokesman Says
BACKGROUND

Sid, according TO its constitution,
enjoys freedom OF religion. State
nlent drelC immediate challenges
from churchmen and others, tUhO
Contended that religious free
dom article OF the SOUiet cOnSti-
tuition 1CdS meaningless. Mr..
Roosevelt later reuealed that dp-
proacheS had been made TO the
Russian government to remOue
eriSting restraints on religion.
BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW. Oct. As. A. Lozovsky
official Soviet press spokesman. de-
clared today the big rumpus now
raised in the United States" over
religion in the U. S. S. r. came from
opponents Of aid to Russia
The Soviet state. he told CORE
spondentS, considers religion a pri-
vate matter for its citizens and has
as a basic policy freedom OF religion
as well as freedom of anti-religiouS
propag ganda.
Lozovsky asserted the Soviet con-
Stitution guarantees religious free
dom-but assumes that freedom of
religion will not be utilized for the
overthrow of the prevailing regime. .
Linking his statement 10 recent
comment on the subject of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the Soviet spokes-
man said:
Il observe that many Of those who
are raising the problem of religion
in the U. S. S r are people criticiz-
ing the Presidents policies. They
are pro-German.
Much Ado About Nothing"
THE root of the problem is aid
to Russia or Germany The big
rumpus now raised in the United
States in connection with this prob
lem is much ado about nothing II
is raised by people who do not wish
to understand the Soviet attitude
toward religion
Replying to a question. LozOvsky
said anti-religious museums in Rus
sia are operated "as part of the
history of mans culture and be
long 10 the same category as plane
tariums."
In answer to another question he
said churches and other religious
institutions are not taxed but clergy
and other servants of the church
pay an income tax similar to other
citizens.
To insure to all citizens freedom
of conscience he added. the
church in the U. S. S. R is sepa-
rated from the state and the school
from the church. Freedom to per-
form religious rites and freedom
of anti-religious propaganda is rec
oenized for all citizens"
Accord Held Blow to Reich.
The spokesman. Vice Commissal
Of Foreign Affairs. declared the ac-
cord Of the three power conference
of Russia. Britain and the United
States was a terribly hard blow
to Germany.
He said Hitler admitted having
underestimated the strength of the
Red Army and. frightened by his
own admissions. tried to explain the
Red Army valor as blood-thirsti-
ness -
Roosevelt Declared Correct.
Soviet public opinion learned
with great interest the contents of
Mr.. Roosevelts statement to his
press conference on freedom of wor-
ship in the U. S. S. r." Lozovsky
said
The President correctly pointed
out the basic principles of the con-
stltution of the U. S. S. R. on free
dom of worship of Soviet citizens.
In the Soviet Union the church
is separate from the state. This
means the state gives no advantage
TO this or that religion, does not sup
port churches, mosques. synagogues
and others.
Citizens adhering to a certain
religion are maintaining their re-
lglous institutions at their own
expense.
There is freedom of worship in
the U. S. S. R. This means anv
Soviet citizen may adhere to any
religion. This is a question of the
conscience and views of each
citizen.
Many Denominations in Soviet.
There is the old Greek-Catholic
Church in the U. S. S. R., also the
new Greek-Catholic. Old Believers,
Armenian. Molokans, Dukhobors
Moslems. Evangelists. Baptists. Ad-
ventiStS, Jews, Catholics, Lutherans,
BuddhiSts, etc.
Religion is a private affair of
Soviet citizens wherein the state
does not interfere and considers it
unnecessary to interfere.
The Soviet constitution provides
not only the right to adhere to this
or that religion. but also the right
of Soviet citizens not to belong to
any church or to conduct anti
religious propaganda
Soviet law does not deem it pos
sible to force citizens to worship or
not to worship this or that religion.
This is a matter for the conscience
Of each Soviet citizen