[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997 the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, less than 2 weeks ago our Nation celebrated 
its Independence Day, a day in which all Americans celebrate the many 
freedoms that were fought to achieve. Several hundred years ago, a 
group of colonists chose to come across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in 
and explore a new continent. For many, a prime motivation was to flee 
from restrictions on their ability to express themselves religiously.
  One of the freedoms that we as Americans are so fortunate to have is 
the ability to associate, organize, express and freely believe in the 
religion that we so choose.
  In Russia, several provisions of a piece of legislation threaten the 
liberties of its citizens by restricting their freedom to express 
themselves religiously. It is the most extreme attack on the civil 
rights of the Russian people since the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
This new law would terminate and restrict the normal legal status of 
all religious organizations except those that were registered under the 
former Soviet Government. This action would result in thousands of 
churches and schools being forced to end their services, including many 
American and foreign organizations that have gone to Russia to provide 
humanitarian and medical assistance to those in need. Even those 
informal groups that meet in someone's home could be under state 
control.
  After making such tremendous progress in establishing a democratic 
system of government over the past few years, this action by the 
Russian Duma, or parliament, would clearly be a step backward for the 
Government of Russia.
  The people of Russia have suffered and worked hard to achieve a 
system of government that would eventually give them the fruits of a 
truly free nation. While our Nation has no official religion and does 
not give preference to any religion, we recognize the important role 
that religious organizations have in the lives of our citizens. We can 
only hope and pray that the leaders of Russia will recognize the same.
  This legislation is now sitting on President Boris Yeltsin's desk. I 
urge President Yeltsin and the leaders of the Russian Government to 
have the courage to stand up and protect the basic civil rights of 
Russia's people to express themselves freely and to worship as they so 
choose.

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