The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-09

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l wondered what happened whel
worshippers wished to open anothe
church or new church in locality
was told: IF a group of believer
numbering 20 or more wishes to opel
: a church. they sign petition ant
refer it to the local church and ad
ministrative authorities. The loca
Soviet examines the matter and refer:
it to us in Moscow. We give final ap
proval or disapproval"
"On what basis?" asked.
Usually we approve. Sometimes
however, we feel that there are al
ready enough churches in given
locality or that perhaps not enough
support is obtainable and we reject
the petition
"What of Sunday schools?" asked
He did not know what these were
I explained.
"That hasn't risen. Russian churches
never had Sunday schools or special
young peoples services and that ques-
/ Jun Dstoit oOCh RloCo at dll
This reply did not answer all my
doubts and l knew that it would not
satisfy the interest and curiosity of
people at home. l pressed him with
another question.
"How soon will Soviet authorities
permit churches and priests to con-
duct religious education among the
young, and what restrictions, if any,
will govern such education?"
May Teach Children AS
Parents Desire
He said that this question had long
been clarified. Each person may or
may not teach his children religion, as
he desires. In schools no religion may
be taught. But parents may educate
their children in religion in the pri-
vacy of their own homes or gather
groups of children for this purpose or
invite or hire priests for this purpose"
"Is the printing and distributing of
religious material permitted?" l asked
He was surprised and there was
note of amazement in his voice: eve
have no bans against that, except
such restrictions as the paper short
age imposes. The church may print
whatever it wishes and no restriction
exists upon the distribution of such
material"
1t was made clear to me that much
publication is done by the churches.
nrthndnv ol,,
a monthly journal of the Moscow Pa
and an annual church calen-
dar Similar calendars are published
by the Armenians, Gregorians, Mos
lens, and others. Baptist magazines
were being considered when l was in
Russia, as was a Jewish calendar. Re-
Gently the Russian Orthodox church |
was given large printing works.
The problems and the answers
which are raised in the discussion of |
the Orthodox faith were multiplied in
the case of the many other religions, |
but there were no significant differ
ences in the meaning of the answers.
The freedom, the conduct, the solu-
lions of problems where the other reli-
gions in the Soviet Union were con-
cerned, were the same as for the
Russian Orthodox church. These
churches and these faiths have their
Council, too. Ivan Polyansky headed
t when was there. He has an inter-
ssting but complex and difficult
position. His work includes the main
enance of relations between the
Soviet Union and the Roman Catholic
aith. In addition, he said, his work
equired his jurisdiction over affairs
the Armenian, Gregorian,
I'D Believers, Lutheran, and Greek
catholic churches. 1t also deals with :
he Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist, Seventh !
Jay Adventists and other denomina- t
ions. :
Two and One-HaIf Million Baptsts I
What Mr.. Polyansky said of the Bap-
lists will be of interest to an American
eader as illustrating the condition in
,ussia of one of the largest of the
.merican Protestant faiths. In one of !
ly last talks with Mr.. Polyansky
yas told that the Baptists had united
yith the Evangelical Christians to
orm joint all-Russia synod. Before ;
he first world war there were two
nd a half million Baptists in Russia
he exact figure at present is not t
lillion. In some areas more than $50 7
BAPTIST communities have registered i
nd more are registering every day. d
Even more interesting, perhaps, is t
le Roman Catholic faith in Russia t
he main centers of Roman Catholic v
IN in Russia are in Lithuania, where O
lere are two Roman Catholic metro Ii
olitans. In Latvia there is one metro fl
olitan and in the western Ukraine
mother. The best figure that / could ie
Dtain gave 1900 as the number of N
oman Catholic cathedrals in western 4
kraine and the number of priests as n
100. In Kaunas there is a Roman :,
atholic seminary with $50 students. Il
seminary at Wilma was also being q
,nsidered. fl
Polyansky insisted that Russian Ro- II
an Catholics share full rights and o.
'ivlleges with all believers: "The =
lies governing the opening and 2,
aintenance of Catholic churches are ~
10 same as for any faith. Any regis a
red Catholic society having more m
an 20 members may be given charge h
building for religious purposes q
may build one; and it may freely 81
vite all people to come there Cath d,
les may maintain priests and n,
shops. They may collect funds, print p
aver books, hold conferences and a,
oselytize." h;
Catholics Have Same priviIeoee RI