Yeltsin Praised, Attacked For Rejecting Religion Law

President Boris Yeltsin’s rejection of a controversial law on religion was praised Wednesday by Roman Catholics and human rights activists and skewered by hard-line legislators.

One top communist lawmaker, Valentin Kuptsov, described it as “the public humiliation of Russia,” the Interfax news agency reported.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which enjoys warm relations with the government and had strongly backed the legislation, said in a terse statement that the rejection “causes great regret and surprise.”

But the bill still could become law.

Acknowledging the possibility that Parliament might override his decision, Yeltsin told legislative leaders he would sign the bill the second time around and attach a letter specifying clauses that are unconstitutional or violate international treaties.

The bill would officially recognize the importance of the Orthodox Church in Russian history and culture and affirm the roles of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other “traditional” religions.

But it also would set up barriers for other religions and cults, forcing them to register with the government and prohibiting them from owning property or conducting public worship for 15 years after registration.

Pope John Paul II had strongly opposed the measure, and the United States had threatened to cut off aid to Russia if it became law.

The Baptist Church chairman in Russia, Igor Diksa, also welcomed the action.