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Article: Yeltsin's important veto.
- Article from:
- The Boston Herald
- Article date:
- July 25, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Boston Herald. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Thank God Boris Yeltsin has vetoed a bill sharply restricting religious freedom in Russia. The legislation deserves to be buried - without religious rites.
The measure, which passed both houses of Russia's parliament with considerable support, was said to be aimed at cults like Japan's Aum Shinrikyo.
If so, it was swatting flies with a sledgehammer. In reality, it would have resurrected the near-monoploy enjoyed by the Russian Orthodox Church prior to 1917.
Religions not registered with the Soviet state 15 years ago (including the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical denominations of Christianity) would have been banished to the catacombs. ...