A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 31 - Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Orthodox Church Lashes Out at Rights Groups (The Associated Press) - A top representative of the Russian Orthodox Church lashed out at human rights groups Monday, saying the rights movement in Russia has seriously compromised itself and is in need of new leaders. "If we speak of the most famous so-called rights organizations with national status, we are mainly talking about people who are professionally fighting the Russian Orthodox Church; who don't love Russia, to put it mildly," Metropolitan Kirill, who heads the church's foreign relations department, said in an interview published on its web site. Kirill was responding to a question about the recent confrontation between the church and the Sakharov Museum. Yury Samodurov, head of the respected museum, and two of his associates have been charged with inciting religious hatred after organizing an art exhibition that irritated the church. Kirill said the Russian rights movement needs new leaders "who would be capable of confronting bureaucrats, be incorruptible and not worry about getting Western grants." His words echoed a statement President Vladimir Putin made in his state-of-the-nation address in May that raised concerns among rights groups and other civic organizations. Putin said many non-governmental organizations are more interested in getting funding from abroad or from corporate sponsors than in defending the real interests of the Russian people.
"I think that it
[the activity of rights groups] has been
compromised for many years to come," Kirill said. |
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