Russian Orthodox Church clerics have asked the country’s authorities to "show mercy" on the three members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who were sentenced to two years in jail each on Friday in a trial seen as a test of President Vladimir Putin's tolerance of dissent.Read the rest here.
"Casting no doubt on the legitimacy of the court’s decision, we appeal to the public authorities to show mercy, within the law, on the convicted in the hope they will never repeat such blasphemous actions,” the Russian Orthodox Church's High Council said in a statement, according to RT.com.
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Some are now criticizing the Church for asking for mercy AFTER the trial has ended.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I believe that this is the right time for the Church to ask for mercy. Asking for mercy before the trial has even concluded would not only have been a real example of direct interference in the judicial system, it would also have been meaningless for the Church to ask for mercy when no conviction had yet been laid down.
Personally I think these hooligans (because that is what they are) should remain in jail for a few more months at least before being released.
I am inclined to agree with you on the timing issue. As for jail time, they have already spent more than a few months in jail. I would have given them time served and a couple months of cleaning up the dog poo in every park in Moscow for community service.
ReplyDeleteOther than that I'd have just told them to be sure to check the weather report in Siberia if they were ever tempted to pull a stunt like that again.
The comments on all the news sites covering this story scare me. (including the one you linked) The majority of posters seem to be extremely hostile towards Putin, the church, and Russia in general. They're bordering on irrational hatred as I don't know what that developing country emerging from communism has done to warrant such vitriol. I'm not saying Russia is all that great, but I think it is improving with all the usual "growing pains."
ReplyDeleteAs the story develops, from the act itself, to the arrest, trial, and now that we find out the Russian church has forgiven them - every new bit of info is used to criticize that country and culture. Whether it's attributing ulterior motives, conspiracy theories, or just old-time traditional religion bashing, it is very disturbing. It's almost as if Russia can do no right.
I hope I stayed on this posting topic, but I just thought I'd throw out that observation. I really enjoy your blog.
-A.B.
You have to understand that to many American Evangelicals, Russia is part of Gog and Magog who will lead the all out assault on the Holy Land "with hooks in their jaws." Many take this to be one of the signs that Russia is still a dictatorship set against all that is peace-loving and free.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, after watching the video of the acts for which these girls were arrested; their movements and gyrations were similar to what one would see in many Protestant churches on any given Sunday; absent the crossing of themselves of course - that's forbidden in churches here.