Russian Church, secular advocates at odds on crucifix display
April 05, 2011
A leading spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church has encouraged public manifestations of faith, drawing criticism from human-rights advocates who see such displays as an infringement on secularism.
"We should have no qualms about making the sign of the cross wherever we like, or hanging an image of the crucifix, where we live and work," wrote Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, who heads the public-affairs department of the Moscow patriarchate. Lev Ponomarev, a human-rights advocate, chided the cleric: “Concern yourselves more with prayers and sermons and not with pushing for official displays.”
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