Orthodox Church Wants Russia To Outlaw Satanism and Church Desecration

Concerned with Satanist symbols, swastikas and inverted stars being scratched on church walls, a Russian Orthodox Church official has called on Russia to adopt a statutory ban on Satanism. Interfax reported yesterday that Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, also wants a law banning desecration of religious shrines. Chaplin says Satanism leads to murder, animal abuse and desecration of churches and graves.