The Russian Orthodox Church this week expressed its displeasure over a proposal by a Russian lawmaker, who called for future clerics to first undergo a psychiatric examination and a criminal background check.
The Patriarchate of Moscow said such checks would be unconstitutional; stressing that clerics should not fall under guidelines in place for candidates of the security forces.
At the same time, a Patriarchate spokesman reminded that the Church itself has made conditions for future priests much stricter over recent years.