Russia’s Religious Autocracy
In the present Russo-Japanese war, the sympathies of the Catholic Church are strongly on the side of Russia. The reason of this is evident when we consider Russia from a religious standpoint. The word “czar” stands for autocratic power, and the autocratic power of Russia is commonly supposed to be that exercised by the czar through the officials of his government; but while the czar is the nominal and visible ruler, the real source of power and authority in Russia is the Greek Catholic Church. It is as a religious power that Russia prosecutes her schemes of conquest throughout Europe and Asia. In religious Russia is the real autocracy, the real fountainhead of ambition, the real lust of conquest. Religious Russia is the real Russia. From a religious point of view Russia is thus described: — The chief procurator of Russia, in a late report to the czar on the state of Russian religion, brings out the fact that the power and wealth of the Greek Church are immense. There are 66,780 of these churches in the empire. During the last year 833 new places of worship were consecrated. In connection with these churches there are 16,658 monks and 36,146 nuns. There are 2,050 head priests and 42,743 ordinary priests. These, together with 58,156 deacons and under-deacons, make a grand total, along with seven other divisions, the figures of which are not given exactly, of 170,000 persons in official positions. A sum of nearly $30,000,000 was paid by the Russian people last year for the support of this vast organization.