The Church cannot but gives moral assessment to the actions of the powers that be, said His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II

THE CHURCH CANNOT BUT GIVES MORAL ASSESSMENT TO
THE ACTIONS OF THE POWERS THAT BE, SAID HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II

In his hour-long talk on the radio on March 18 concerning the problems that disturb the Russians today, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia focused on the social and economic situation in Russian society, especially the least provided-for part of it. According to the Patriarch, “many have been affected by the economic crisis, not only by the August-17 events, but by the whole economic situation of the recent years. Now the situation with regard to salary and pension payments has improved. But their meager amounts make people balance on the edge of poverty, which means on the verge of despair and helplessness”.

His Holiness stressed that in this case people in point are not idlers or spongers but people who work hard and honest, who work efficiently or worked all their lives for the people’s good and now are retired. He continued, “These people find it especially painful to see against the background of their poverty the luxuriating people who earned enormous amounts of money in an incomprehensible way and now waste them, thus confirming the popular wisdom that easy money are easy to go. The stratification of society, the growing gap between rich and poor leading to bitterness and animosity – all this destroys spiritual harmony and accord in the people, making it, therefore, a matter of serious concern for the Church”.

Anticipating the question why the Church speaks so much about the problems of society, thus interfering in the affairs of the state and seeking a political role of her own, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized that the Church does not participate in political struggle. She does not seek power, nor does she seek to substitute the state. What she seeks to do is to bring to people the voice of God’s will and the voice of the people’s conscience. It means that she cannot but gives moral assessment to the actions of the powers that be, to the situation in society and to the problems that disturb people. “Yes”, continued the Patriarch, “patience is needed today, and we must bow low before our people for their great patience. But what we also need is justice. Indeed, the Lord says: ‘Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbour serve him for nothing, and does not give him his wages’ (Jer. 22,13). People should not suffer, with society remaining indifferent to their suffering. It is to patience and justice, mercy and truth, love and spiritual sobriety that the Church calls our people”.