Moscow, March 24, 2017
Photo: RIA-Novosti
Orthodox activists recently announced that they intend to create their own political movement, with a press release stating that the “People’s Trade Union of Russia” includes representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, such as the head of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media’s department for work with public organizations Archpriest Dmitry Roshschin. This created the impression that clergy intended to participate in the activity of the organization, aimed at the creation of basically a political party.
“Orthodox people, except for priests, as well as others, can use the whole spectrum of civil rights, form unions, and participate in political activities. Moreover, participation in unions is an important part of the life of civil society. Thanks to them, the social rights of citizens and the rights of employees can be protected,” the head of the Duma Committee for the Affairs of Public Associations and Religions Organizations Sergei Gavrilov told RIA-Novosti.
While there is nothing illegal in the emergence of this new union, members of clergy are in fact ineligible to participate.
The first meeting was initially announced as taking place in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, but on the eve of the meeting it was announced that the chamber was denying the union its platform, which forced it to be moved to a Moscow hotel. The refusal was explained by that the Public Chamber is not to be used to discuss forming a political movement that is near to being a political party.
At the same time, Fr. Dmitry Roshschin told RIA-Novosti that the announcement of his invovlement was a “misunderstanding,” and that the matter of his participation and in what capacity was never worked out. “It was a misunderstanding. It has no relation to the Church’s position. The Church has nothing to do with it,” the priest assured.
Chairman of the “Sacred League of St. George” foundation for the revival of Christian values Sergei Egorov noted that currently only political parties can nominate candidates for elections. “We believe this is wrong… We see our task as forming an active trade union movement … and then to advocate for changes in legislation and the allowance of public organizations in the political field,” he said. He noted that although the Church can sympathize with such Christian movements, it gives no blessings for political activity. Therefore, the Church is not obliged to assess or approve of the appearance of organizations just because they have “Christian” or “Orthodox” in the title.
Therefore, there are no clergy included in the makeup of the organization.
“Built over more than two decades, the system of state-religious interaction in Russia is in full compliance with the principle of a secular state enshrined in the constitution. Following this principle, it is equally important for the state authorities and for the Russian Orthodox Church that state and religious associations do not interfere in the internal workings of one another,” Patriarch Kirill stated in January at the Fifth Christmas Parliamentary Meetings in the State Duma.
According to the primate, no one in the Russian Church “has the desire to intrude upon state matters, but the Church has a moral responsibility… to express its view in relation to what happens in the country, and especially that which affects the people’s inner, spiritual life.”
Of course the Church can be and is actively involved in non-political social work with charities, helping those in need, from sick, defenseless orphans to lonely shut-ins. Orthodox clergy and faithful often selflessly help state institutions in such matters, which are beyond the realm of strict politics.
“The most effective Orthodox activists, defending the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church, are far from political,” concluded Deputy Sergei Gavrilov.
