Word: clergymen
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...less than three years, Iran's tumultuous revolution has spawned a staggering array of problems: civil violence, war with Iraq, economic ruin, international isolation. Yet, however untidy their methods, the country's ruling clergymen seemed united in their dedication to establish an Islamic republic. Now, apparently, that solidarity is vanishing, if indeed it ever existed in the first place. Having ruthlessly eliminated their secular opponents, the mullahs have lately turned on each other, arguing over everything from the sacred (Islamic law) to the profane (the spoils of political power...
...clerical battle lines have not been clearly drawn. But there have been struggles between the Islamic Guards, the clergy's private army, and the Friday Prayer Leaders, Khomeini's personal representatives throughout Iran. And in recent weeks a number of right-wing clergymen have agitated publicly for a share of political power, now monopolized by the ruling, Khomeini-backed Islamic Republic Party (I.R.P.). One source of their discontent: Khomeini's announcement on Oct. 12 that he was delegating some functions of the cherished Velayat-e-Faqih (Supreme Theologian's Mandate)* to the Majlis (parliament...
Occasional glimpses of Christian courage do filter through. The study criticizes a troublesome archbishop in Vladimir and Suzdal for ordering his clergymen "to preach more frequently and not be lazy." Pointing to a disturbing revival of traditional holiday visits by priests, the author of the report lauds one council functionary in Tomsk who "took steps to curtail such activities" after he noted that Lenten visits created a "sensation" in villages and provoked "unwholesome interest" among unbelievers...
Rivalry between the Islamic Guards, the clergy's military arm, and the regular armed forces gave Moscow another valuable opportunity to exploit Iran's increasingly unstable situation. Fear of a strong opposition and disloyalty in the armed services has led such clergymen as Hojja-toleslam Ashgar Mousavi Khoeiny, the deputy speaker of the Majlis (parliament), to endorse Soviet offers to reinforce the military effectiveness of the Islamic Guards. Thus, for the first time, the Soviet Union has introduced its weapons into revolutionary Iran. Soviet advisers, forming the nucleus of a military mission, have begun teaching Islamic Guards...
...Catholic Church made no response to FitzGerald's proposals last week, but they were hailed by leading Protestant clergymen in the Republic. In Ulster, Protestant Firebrand Ian Paisley railed that FitzGerald's plan would "in no way weaken our resolve never to come under Dublin rule." Catholic leaders gave the initiative a guarded welcome. Said Sean Farren, chairman of the predominantly Catholic Social Democratic and Labor Party: "Many changes, both in attitudes and in law, are needed if a meaningful agreement is to be achieved between the people of Ireland...