The Russian Orthodox Church has been witnessing much negative publicity in recent weeks, as a result of a feminist punk band -- called Pussy Riot -- staging an unsanctioned performance in Moscow's largest cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Three members of the punk band were arrested after their sacrilegious performance last March, and remain in prison awaiting trial. Some Russians believe that these three women -- who could be sentenced to as many as seven years in prison -- should not serve any time in prison, while others believe they should receive a long prison sentence.
This week, the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the dissemination of leaflets on the property of Christ the Savior Cathedral -- leaflets that called on parishioners to join a protest rally on May 6 -- in an effort to have these women released from prison.
We agree with the Russian Orthodox Church in its assertion that church grounds should not be used as a protest center or a place to disseminate anti-religious information.
Political protest, then, must be held at another location -- not on church property -- because politics and religion must be separated.
Moreover, Russian citizens need to be cognizant of the fact that church property must be respected as a sanctity of the church, and not an acceptable place for holding protests or disseminating anti-religious information.
Indeed, this is not an unreasonable order for Russian citizens to accept -- especially when one considers that the church grounds are an extension of the Body of Christ.
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