Catholics. and countless other believers belonging to unregistered churches are trying to stand up and gain the freedom to worship and to practice their Christianity without being brought continuously into conflict with the state. American authorities are aware of this problem. They know. for example. that some 20.000 Soviet Christians have decided to risk the worst by sending their names. ages. and addresses to the Supreme Soviet asking for permission to emigrate. But to date. our Government has answered with near silence and passive acquiescence. The case of the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families. the seven Christians held in our embassy in Moscow. is a glaring example of this. Mr. President. Senate Concurrent Resolution 60. which we are considering today. expresses the sense of Congress that the President and other officials within the executive branch convey to the Soviet Union. in unequivocal terms. that this country strongly disapproves of the religious harassment of Christians and the restrictions on them to freely emigrate. Resolution 60 further states that the United States expects the Soviet Union to honor its commitments under the Helsinki Accords. While today the Senate is considering Senate Concurrent Resolution 60. its companion.
Keywords matched
emigrate