Robert Smith: “a few weeks ago, on the Fourth of July, as Americans were celebrating their cherished freedoms upon which this country…”

“a few weeks ago, on the Fourth of July, as Americans were celebrating their cherished freedoms upon which this country was founded, the Russian Federation passed a bill which, if signed into law, would restrict freedom of religion in that country in a lamentable way. This bill is ironically titled, ``On Freedom of Conscience and on Religious Associations.'' It first passed the lower house of the Russian Duma in late June. The bill would, among other things, limit the activities of foreign missionaries and grant unregistered religious groups significantly fewer rights than accredited Russian religious organizations such as the Russian Orthodox Church, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. Mr. President, this bill awaiting signature now on President Yeltsin's desk would severely limit the very existence of what Russia terms ``new faiths.'' These ``new faiths'' include many Protestant faiths--Evangelicals, fundamentalists, Pentecostals, SDA's, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and even the Catholic Church. These faiths will be persecuted as religious minorities under this proposed law. Congress has already taken a number of steps to send signals to President Yeltsin about this bill. Many Members of both Houses have signed letters to President Yeltsin and to President Clinton. From the Vatican to former President Jimmy Carter, the reaction to this law has been strong and unwavering. I rise today to send an even stronger signal.…”