Prominent Russian Orthodox Cleric Calls for Mandatory Theology Courses in Kaluga

(September 9, 2008)

The leading Russian Orthodox Church cleric in the Kaluga region called for the mandatory teaching of Russian Orthodox theology in local schools, according to a September 5, 2008 report by the Slavic Law Center. Metropolitan Kliment requested the governor of the Kaluga region to mandate that schools teach "The Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture"--a curriculum that human rights advocates and many minority religious leaders criticize for violating the secular nature of the state guaranteed in the Russian constitution, and for its use of an antisemitic textbook. As for the rights of religious minorities not to have another faith's theology imposed upon them by the government, Metropolitan Kliment said that by taking the course, "They will be able to better understand the culture and world view of the people whose Fatherland accepts them onto its territory," a statement that ignores the fact that millions of Russian citizens belonging to minority faith communities were born and have centuries' old roots in Russia. If these courses are not taught, he warned, the country will break apart along sectarian and ethnic lines, especially if large-scale in-migration continues from other former Soviet states.

Currently, "The Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" course is being taught in around 100 Kaluga schools as an elective; its teaching is mandatory in four other regions.

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