Dispatches from the TASS news agency report that on June 23 and July 4 (1997), the two Houses of the Russian Parliament (i.e., the Duma and the Council of the Federation) approved a law which recognized only four religions as having a legitimate legal status in Russia because they are considered as belonging to the Russian tradition: Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. All other religions are considered on the same level as the sects unworthy of protection.
The purpose of the law is to combat the "pseudo-religions", especially the sects that have invaded Russia since the theoretical collapse of the Soviet Union. But in this law (which was enthusiastically supported by the Orthodox Patriarch), Catholicism was put on the same level as a "pseudo-religion" such as the Unitarians or Jehovah's Witnesses.
While the Pope wrote a letter of protest to Yeltsin, the US Senate went much further, passing a resolution to cut off all American aid to Russia if Yeltsin sanctioned the law. In consequence of this, Yeltsin has refrained from affixing his signature to this controversial text. It is permissible to think that he is alarmed by the American threat of suspended economic aid, which is so important for Russia today. However, the situation at the moment is changeable, and it is possible that a compromise solution may be reached � that is, by "non-radical" modifications of the text, as declared by Russian Prime Minister Cernomyrdin.
Both the Pope and the US Senate have intervened in the name of religious liberty guaranteed by so-called "human rights". The United States holds itself particularly responsible to protect abroad the innumerable pseudo-religious sects that characterize its civil life. Some time ago there was almost a political crisis between Bonn and Washington because the German authorities had placed strong limits on the activity of the controversial Scientology sect.
Whatever finally happens in this Russian incident, we mention it here because it seems to confirm, once again, that the three consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by Pope John Paul II between 1982-84 for the purpose of Russia's conversion to Catholicism, were and remain entirely invalid because they were not conducted according to Our Lady's very specific requests. In fact, what fruit have they produced? Where is the conversion of Russia? Can we not see some sign? On the contrary, 13 years after the last consecration, the Russian Parliament has even tried to put Catholicism into exile � this "sect" which does not belong to the "Russian tradition".
OUR LADY'S REQUESTS UNFULFILLED BY THE POPES
As is well known, the official and solemn consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the part of the Holy Father, "in union with all the bishops of the world", was Our Lady's request to the surviving seer of Fatima, Sr. Lucia of the Immaculate Heart in the convent of Tuy, Spain. This request of June 13, 1929, was duly sent to the proper authorities. Its fulfillment was to be followed by the conversion of Russia to Catholicism: thus Our Lady promised in Her apparitions at Fatima. And again at Fatima, the Most Holy Virgin stated that if Russia were not converted, she would spread her errors throughout the world, "causing wars and persecutions against the Church", and in consequence of this, "the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and several nations will be annihilated".
Here it would be expected that, faced with such a terrible announcement, yet which contains the promise of Russia's conversion to Catholicism (a fact of epochal historical significance), the popes would have hastened to perform the requested consecration in the proper form. But it was not thus at all. Some have done absolutely nothing, such as Pope Pius XI and Pope John XXIII. Others have done something, but not according to the correct form: Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II. Either the world and Russia were offered to Mary, rather than only Russia or the explicit mention of Russia was missing, while retaining that of the world, or � in any case � the consecration on the part of all the bishops was lacking. Russia therefore gave reason for anxiety, and even more because of the punishments prophesied by the Most Holy Virgin as a consequence of Russia's failure to convert!
To the reiterated criticisms of those who questioned the validity of his consecrations, the present Pope and the ecclesiastical authorities have reacted in the end with annoyance, maintaining that it had already been done, and more times than necessary. But facts, as Pascal said, "are stubborn" and do not allow themselves to be modified by the words of men. And here the facts are very clear, because what was requested and promised by the Most High is extremely simple and consistent: to one event (the consecration of Russia in the correct form) will follow another (the conversion of Russia to Catholicism). It is a matter of an elementary causal connection between the two acts. In such a causal relationship, the failure of the effect to occur implies a defect in the cause. And here the defect consists in the lack of compliance with the conditions of validity affixed to the consecration. Therefore we do not see the sign of Russia's conversion. On the contrary, we note an increase of her deeply rooted hostility toward Catholicism.
THE GUILT OF TODAY'S CATHOLIC HIERARCHY
For all this, today's Catholic hierarchy bears responsibility: not only for the invalidity of the consecrations but also because of the so-called ecumenical politics pursued toward the Orthodox Church � politics that have not protected and do not protect the rights of Catholics in any way.
As it is known, it was Stalin who forced, in 1944, the absorption of Russian Catholics into the Orthodox Church, which was enslaved to his regime. Today's Vatican has done nothing to claim the restitution of its churches and confiscated goods. And nothing is done to spread Catholicism in Russia. In fact, any form of proselytizing by the Catholics (the Uniate Church) is prohibited, in order to not damage the "dialogue" with the Orthodox Church.
The invalid consecrations of Russia are understood still better in the light of Vatican politics, constantly outstretched to yield and to compromise to all kinds of false religions for too many decades now. The fruits of these politics are clear to everyone. They show that the facts are going in exactly the opposite direction to that propagated by the rhetoric of this so-called "dialogue".
Taken from The Angelus, January 1998 edition.