Why did communists target the russian orthodox church?

a) because church officials had become corrupt and abused their power
b) because stalin was a roman catholic
c) because stalin felt the church promoted facist beliefa
d) because people's loyalties lay with the church rather than the state

The correct answer is D) because people’s loyalties lay with the Church rather that the state.

Communist targeted Russian Orthodox Church because people’s loyalties lay with the Church rather than the state.

In those days the Orthodox Church was very influential with the people. It also supported the Czars. So Communist decide to diminish the power of influence that the church had. For instance, in the 1930s many priests were punished and sent to labor camps. Others were killed. Historians believed that in 1940, the number of churches reduced drastically, from thousands to only 500. Communist targeted Russian Orthodox Church because people’s loyalties lay with the Church rather than the state.