Last Updated: Monday, 23 July 2007
Criticism of Russian Church role http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6912482.stm
By Steven Eke BBC Russian affairs analyst
[The strength of the Church has grown since the end of the Soviet Union]
In an unusual move, a senior Russian official has joined academics in criticising what he described as "the creeping clericalisation" of Russia.
Vyacheslav Glazychev accused the Russian Orthodox Church of interfering in the affairs of state.
His criticism came after 10 academics, including three Nobel Prize winners, asked President Vladimir Putin to stop the Church "destroying science". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6912482.stm