Religious Bodies Cannot Control Cemeteries in Russia, New Law Rules

A new law, depriving religious bodies, of any denomination, of the right to supervise or to control burial grounds, was promulgated today.

Under the law, religious communities are prohibited from maintaining cemeteries for their membership. The cemeteries are to be transfrred to the jurisdiction of the local Soviets. The law recommends to the Soviets that burial expenses be collected from the relatives of the deceased in accordance with their economic situation.

The measure was viewed as another step to undermine the influence of religion, as the new regulations will undoubtedly tend to create in Russia a “Soviet burial,” just as there is a Soviet marriage. The provisions, one of which is that no burial be allowed before forty hours after death occurs, will greatly affect the rituals of different denominations.