Going Political? The Involvement of Churches in Public Debates on Prolife Issues in Belarus

Natallia Vasilevich

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Chapter 12 Going Political? The Involvement of Churches in Public Debates on Prolife Issues in Belarus

In: Theology and the Political

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Natallia Vasilevich

Natallia Vasilevich
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 200–227

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004440746_013

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Abstract

In post-Soviet societies since the end of the twentieth century, abortion issues have become dominant in public debates, seeing increased involvement by churches and church-related organizations. The prolife agenda, being internalized by churches, overshadows all other social concerns and engagements. This essay focuses on Belarusian society where the public sphere is under strict control and domination by an authoritarian political regime. Civil society has limited access to the decision-making process and the subsequent policies produced by the state. First, churches, irrespective of confessional identity, share similar stances on prolife issues, while choosing different strategies to communicate their position towards the government and civil society, depending upon their recognition by the government. Being commonly shared at the level of idea presents an opportunity for ecumenical cooperation. With respect to policies and strategies, prolife lobbying actually creates a competitive situation and undermines cooperation. Second, prolife discourse, having a strong protest element in the political sphere, plays a paradoxical role in the restricted public space by which the state excludes churches from other political areas while churches maintain loyalty to the government through anti-Western rather than anti-governmental criticism. The pro-life agenda, therefore, claiming a political character results paradoxically in the depoliticization of the churches’ involvement in the public sphere. In the end, prolife argumentation has shifted from human rights discourse towards demography and national and state security.

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Theology and the Political

Theo-political Reflections on Contemporary Politics in Ecumenical Conversation

Series: Theology and Mission in World Christianity, Volume: 16

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004440746

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 23 Oct 2020

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Chapter 12 Going Political? The Involvement of Churches in Public Debates on Prolife Issues in Belarus

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Theology and the Political

Theo-political Reflections on Contemporary Politics in Ecumenical Conversation

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