Moscow, July 18.
A recrudescence of anti-religious propaganda, which had died out for a while, is being noticed again by observers here.
Certain specialized papers, such as the "Antireligiozik" or. the "Bezbojnik," dailies with large circulations, periodically denounce either the cessation of atheistic propaganda or the re-awakening of activity in confessional communities, The "Pravda" has for several days now been leading a new campaign against the church and is criticizing ihe editors of regional dailies for their "strange. manner in dealing with anti-religious propaganda." The journal has launched an appeal in favour of the reinforcement of atheist action and cites several significant facts supporting.its initiative, It notes the considerable increase in the influence of the clergy even in a. city such as Magnitogorsk.
According to "Izvestia," church people have even tried' to put the Stalin constitution at the service of the religious interests. "On board a ship between Kalinin and Rjev, on the Volga, a priest began to read the scriptures in a loud voice. To the protests of the passengers he opposed the authority of the constitution which, according to him, permitted religious propaganda:
"It is a pity," "Pravda" asserted, that no passenger exposed this fallicious interpretation, for Article 524 of the Constitution allows each citizen "the liberty to practise religious cults and the freedom of anti-religious propaganda", but it makes no mention of religious propaganda.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.