In Pskov, on Russia’s far Western border, demonstrators protest outside the site of a new Catholic church. “Catholics get lost, Russia for Russians, Pskov for Pskovitans!” they chant. They are members of the Russian Orthodox Church, disgusted by the “intrusion” of the Catholic religion into their country. Of Russia’s 150 million people, just 500,000 are Catholics. But increasing numbers are turning to Catholicism, and it’s got the Orthodox Church worried. The head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexei II, is using his political influence to initiate a crusade against the Catholic Church, expelling members of the Catholic clergy and instigating hate campaigns against Catholic worshippers: “There seems to be religious fascism. This is terrifying,” says Catholic convert Volodya Nedov. And there are even suggestions Church and State are colluding; despite appeals by both George W Bush and the Pope, Putin has done nothing to stop the religious persecution. Modern Russia may promise religious freedom and equality on the surface, but dig deeper and we find a very different picture.

Produced by ABC Australia