«Respect believers’ feelings and maintain christian sober-mindedness.» Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

«RESPECT BELIEVERS’ FEELINGS AND MAINTAIN CHRISTIAN SOBER-MINDEDNESS»
Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

Recently the government of Russia and a number other countries of the Commonwealth have tried to set up a system for collecting information about citizens, which will be maintained in state computers. This is justified by the need to regulate tax collection system and a desire to facilitate the financial relations between citizens and administrative structures.

In particular, residents in several localities people have begun receiving electronic cards by which their accounts with local administrative agencies will be conducted and which will become the basis for distribution of social and medical aid, that is, the return of financial means which citizens give to the government in the form of taxes. This innovation has caused anxiety among the faithful who are afraid of total control by the state over the private and public life of people, as well as the absence of any kind of public control over the information which may be contained on these cards.

Every working person, upon application, will be assigned an individual tax number. Many Christians, who consider their names to be sacred thing given to them at Baptism, think it improper to ask the government to assign to them some new «name» in the form of a number.

Another no less important question which has caused believers to appeal to us, is the problem of the symbol that is used for registration of citizens. In some documents there is or will be a bar code that presents numbers in the form of lines of varying thickness. Each of these codes contains three dividing lines that are shaped like the symbol adopted for the number «6». Thus by the choice of the inventors of the international system the bar codes contain a representation of the number «666», which is mentioned in the book of the Revelation of St. John the Theologian as the number of the antichrist (Rev. 13:16-18) and for this reason is being used by satanic sects for insulting Churches and Christians.

Many specialists working in computer technology assure us that the use of the sign for the number «6» as a demarcating line is unnecessary at all. A conclusion can be drawn from this that whether voluntarily or involuntarily the developers of the global bar code system, which is widely used in statistics, trade, tracking the movement of goods and many other areas chose a symbol that is offensive and alarming for Christians, which appears at least to insolent mockery. Concern about this matter already has been voiced by many Orthodox communities in the world, particularly the Church of Greece. Aware of the complexity of the problem, the Holy Synod nevertheless appeals to pastors and to the flock to maintain Christian sober-mindedness.

Your anxiety engendered by the actions of the authorities is shared by the Church Authority, for in the final analysis the issue is the protection of the right of believers to live in accordance with their religious convictions. At the same time however, we would like to state clearly: there is no need to fear outward symbols and signs. Indeed, no evil suggestion of the enemy of human souls can overcome the grace of God which abounds in the Holy Church. Nothing and no one can shake the faith of a person who truly lives with Christ and takes refuge in the Sacraments of the Church. St. Paul writes: «Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? Bu even if you do suffer from righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence» (1 Pet. 3:13-15).

Some pastors unilaterally have included the question of accepting the taxpayer number among the number of questions asked during confession and have made the rejection of tax registration a requirement for admission to Holy Communion. We remind those who are trying to link identification numbers with «the seal of antichrist» that in the patristic tradition such a seal is understood as a sign that establishes conscious renunciation of Christ. According to Hippolytus of Rome, «that seal will say: ‘I renounce the Creator of heaven and earth; renounce Baptism; renounce my service of God and join you and believe in you’». Similarly St. Nilus the Myrrhifluent says: «The seal will have this inscription: ‘I am yours – Yes, you are mine’». Despite this tradition sometimes it is alleged that a technological action can in itself bring about a turnabout in the secret depth of the human soul, making it to forget Christ. Such superstition diverges from the Orthodox interpretation of the Revelation of St. John the Theologian, according to which the «seal of the beast» is placed on those who consciously come to believe in him «solely because of his false miracles» (St. John Chrysostom). No kind of outward sign can damage the spiritual health of a person if it is not the consequence of his conscious betrayal of Christ and profanation of the faith.

Having said this, we appeal at the same time to the authorities on behalf of our flock, mindful of all the above-mentioned causes of anxiety and bewilderment.

The Church views with understanding the desire to improve the collection of taxes, since it determines in many ways the welfare of people, especially those who are suffering from poverty, illnesses and old age. We also welcome any attempts to facilitate the access of citizens to social aid and other benefits provided by the state, for we know how many difficulties today accompany such access.

However the Holy Synod reminds the government that, according to the norms of secular law and the Russian Constitution in particular, collection, maintenance and use of information about the private life of a person without his or her consent is not permitted (Article 24). Responding to the concern of the faithful of our Church, we call the powers that be to heed our statement with all seriousness. In particular we are disturbed by the absence of citizens’ access to information about them which may be stored in electronic data bases of the taxation agencies and other administrative and financial institutions, and the possibility of using this information to the detriment of people.

We consider it important to create for believers the possibility of not having to apply for an individual tax number.

We call the authorities of Russia and other countries of CIS that have a predominant Orthodox population to raise the question of removing from the bar codes the blasphemous symbol by replacing the corresponding signs of the international system of inscription. If this is impossible to do, we consider it necessary to create an alternative national electronic language.

There is also another essential issue. Soon people who do not have a tax number or the plastic card will be denied in practice the possibility of receiving social and even medical aid. If such happens, then will arise a basis for doubting the principles of the equal rights of citizens and freedom of conscience, principles which are so vigorously proclaimed by contemporary civilization.

It is for this reason that we insist on the necessity of having an alternative record keeping system for citizens and an alternative way for them to receive social, medical, insurance, and other services.

The Church cannot but raise her voice in defence of human freedom. Because it is extremely important for the spiritual unity of society that believers not be placed in second class status, again seeing in the government a persecutor and reviler of the faith. Indeed, Orthodox Christians upon whom the government forces the acceptance of documents containing a number with its deplorable significance will not endanger their own souls. But at the same time it will be necessary for them again, as in the time of persecution, to make an agonizing distinction between the Motherland and the state. Genuine repentance for the crimes committed in the twentieth century against believers will be achieved only when the state steadfastly respects believers’ feelings and does not intrude upon the conscience of the individual for whatever motives, whether political, economic, ideological, or police.

With prayer for Russia and other countries where our flock resides, we hope that the civil authorities will not be indifferent to the pain of millions of Christians. And we appeal to the ministers of Christ and to our flock with the words of the apostle Paul: “May the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-mined one toward another, according to Christ Jesus” (Rom 15:5)