Vladimir Burmatov, deputy head of the parliamentary committee for education, said that Minister for Education and Science Dmitry Livanov will attend the governmental hour to discuss amendments to the bill on freedom of conscience and religious associations passed together with the bill on education, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the documents, school administration may provide praying rooms if its pupils and parents request them.
Burmatov reminded that Russia was a secular multi-confessional country where such initiative should be treated cautiously. It should be discussed with representatives of confessions and public organizations.
Xenia, head of the legal service of the Moscow Patriarchy, noted that the amendments allow prayers and religious ceremonies at religious buildings on the territory of state education centers. The bills concern churches built before the revolution and currently used as state education centers.
The Temple of St. Tatiana the Martyr is occupied by the Journalism Department of the MSU, for instance.
Xenia emphasized that the amendments will not violate the law on secular education in state education centers or restrictions for religious associations in state schools. She noted that such associations are common in hospitals, prisons, nurseries, boarding schools and retirement houses.
