V. I.

Lenin

Proposals to the Draft Decision for the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) Plenum on Clause 13 of the Party Programme [1]

Yaroslavsky and Bukharin to be instructed to revise the
draft so as not to over-emphasise the question of combating religion (by
throwing out § 7, for instance [2] ) and to allow, under definite restrictive conditions, for religious, but honest and
devoted Communists, to remain in the Party.

The fight against religion to be put on a more scientific footing.

(§ 10- out. [3] )

Get it endorsed by the Politbureau.

Start the campaign after thorough preparation.

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Notes:
[1]
This document was written by Lenin in connection with the discussion on
May 18, 1921, by the CC. plenum of the question of implementing Clause 13
of the Party Programme dealing with measures in the sphere of religious
relations. Lenin’s motion was adopted by the plenum.

[2]
Point 7 of the plenum’s original draft resolution, required that the
question of the Party’s attitude to religion “be put before all Party
cells and committees. The Agitation and Propaganda Department shall draft
and send out preliminary theses of a report. The minutes of meetings arid
generally all material dealing with this question nra to be collected
locally, forwarded to the Central Committee, and worked up for a report to
the Eleventh Congress of the R.C.P.” (Central Party Archives, Institute of
Marxism-Leninism of the C.C. of the C.P.S.U.).

[3]
Point 10 of the original draft resolution spoke of the necessity of the
Party conducting a most decisive struggle against attempts on the part of
“some of the clergy to set up anew church organisation” accommodated to
the state organisation. During the 1930s, sections of the Orthodox Church
were co-opted into the State as a way of legitimizing actions of the
government during the collectivization of agriculture and the purge trials
that took place against the old leadership of the Communist Party.