The Status of Christians

Religion in Russia: The plight of Christians in the Soviet Union is worse today, says the author, than it was in Stalin’s day. Ecumenism hasn’t touched the Kremlin.

Last year, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation sent an interfaith mission to the Soviet Union to investigate the state of religion in that country. The essence of the mission’s report was that a “sharp contrast” existed be- tween the position of the Jews and the position of other religious groups: while an atmosphere of “fear and in- security” prevailed among the Jews, a feeling of “confidence” characterized the Christians; and while Jewish con- gregations in the synagogues were small and composed exclusively of the elderly, the Christian congrega- tions in the Orthodox and Baptist churches were not only large but in- eluded youthful worshipers. Two of the mission members, Fathers Thurs- ton N. Davis and Eugene K. Culhane, summarized their own findings in America, a magazine of which they are editors. Their conclusions con- firmed in substance the mission re- port. Since the publication of these state- ments a storm of indignation has arisen in the Western world. National and international conferences have been held on the Soviet Jewish ques- tion, demonstrations have taken place before the Soviet embassies at the UN and in London. Jews throughout the world have been asked to pray for their Soviet brothers, Protestant and Catholic leaders have spoken at Jewish rallies, a petition on this sub- ject was signed and sent to the Soviet authorities, another investigating team of 22 American rabbis was sent to Russia this past summer, an Israeli delegate has raised the issue at the UN and even the British Communist Party has lent its support to the chorus of criticism (though somewhat modestly).

JW

About the Author

John D. Windhausen

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Religion in Russia: The plight of Christians in the Soviet Union is worse today, says the author, than it was in Stalin’s day. Ecumenism hasn’t touched the Kremlin.

Last year, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation sent an interfaith mission to the Soviet Union to investigate the state of religion in that country. The essence of the mission’s report was that a “sharp contrast” existed be- tween the position of the Jews and the position of other religious groups: while an atmosphere of “fear and in- security” prevailed among the Jews, a feeling of “confidence” characterized the Christians; and while Jewish con- gregations in the synagogues were small and composed exclusively of the elderly, the Christian congrega- tions in the Orthodox and Baptist churches were not only large but in- eluded youthful worshipers. Two of the mission members, Fathers Thurs- ton N. Davis and Eugene K. Culhane, summarized their own findings in America, a magazine of which they are editors. Their conclusions con- firmed in substance the mission re- port. Since the publication of these state- ments a storm of indignation has arisen in the Western world. National and international conferences have been held on the Soviet Jewish ques- tion, demonstrations have taken place before the Soviet embassies at the UN and in London. Jews throughout the world have been asked to pray for their Soviet brothers, Protestant and Catholic leaders have spoken at Jewish rallies, a petition on this sub- ject was signed and sent to the Soviet authorities, another investigating team of 22 American rabbis was sent to Russia this past summer, an Israeli delegate has raised the issue at the UN and even the British Communist Party has lent its support to the chorus of criticism (though somewhat modestly).