[DIRTYSECRET]

If Polaks are Catholic why aren’t Russians?

[bad company]

when the communists took over they decided they were only going to deal with one church so whichever was most prominent was chosen and the others closed.

[elhombrelibre]

The Russian people were converted to Christianity by the Orthodox Christian Church. The Poles, or Polaks as you prefer, were converted by to Christianity by the Roman Catholic Church. And, it’s putin who will only allow churches he controls, like the Czars.

[GOP Poet]

Because it is considered a foreign religion to the Russian Orthodox Church--also a historical threat by the 'powers that be' even though they themselves were deeply faithful to their Orthodoxy. The Catholic pope actively tried to change them over with the marriage of Sophia to no avail.

Whereas the Polish strongly identified with the Catholic Church. It was not considered either a threat or a foreign religion.

Also we all know about the little thing called the Russian revolution. But there were many who at risk of their life continued worship after that time. I have many stories--both beautiful and heartbreaking. Of icons hidden deep and far away-- but within reach to be viewed for brief moments of prayer and worship. Many silent believers in those day.

[GOP Poet]

When I saw your question I wasn't sure where it stemmed from as I hadn't read the article yet. I bookmarked it for later. But this article is very simplistic and not very clear in its differentiation between what they are defining as a "Catholic Church" in Russia. Russian Orthodox Church is VERY similar to the Catholic Church as we know it. But the dates of occasions, mass, services, and often lingo is different. There are other differences. The Coptic Christian church is very closely tied to the Russian Orthodox Church in the areas listed above.

But the Catholic Church as the Pope in Rome etc. This is what we think of as Americans when we say Catholic Church and it is accurate.

This article on the other hand (I believe through close reading of it.) is referring to the Russian Orthodox Churches which used to be a foundation of their aristocracy until the Russian revolution. Russia has a very political relationship with its history around the aristocracy and the church. And as mentioned by another. Their is a lot of political control in their leaders (i.e. Putin.) which interfere.

[GOP Poet]

Oh and for clarification. The Russian Orthodox Church is commonly referred to as Eastern Orthodox Church. Or Orthodox Catholic Church—the latter which is much more rare reference on an international level as internationally Catholic Church is seen more as the pope based church. And the religion the Polish people practice more often. The former Eastern Orthodox Church for the Russian church is the usual name.

[x_plus_one]

Fastest growing christian denomination -

300 million Based on the numbers of adherents, the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as Eastern Orthodoxy) is the second largest Christian communion in the world after the Roman Catholic Church. The most common estimates of the number of Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide is approximately 225–300 million.

Protestant anti-catholics have their hands full.