Status Quo Act passed

The Empire of Pavlov is a social and cultural project which seeks to model the society, customs, and traditions of the medieval Slavic principalities and the Roman Empire in a contemporary framing. The standards of what is and isn't acceptable were drastically different in the era that Pavlov is modeled after, and many of today's societal concepts didn't exist at all. More in the Disclaimer.

27 June 7528 AM

His Imperial Majesty Alexander IV, Defender of the Faith, Turtle and Elephants, may the Almighty God bless his reign, gave Imperial Assent to an Act of Senate which regulates the matters of religion in Pavlov.

The Act gives Imperial protection to Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Bon as the recognised religions of the Empire and safeguards the religious status quo on the following conditions:

The practice of unrecognised religions, as well as of atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism and deism is illegal.
Religious affiliation is assigned at birth or during naturalisation and is immutable. Conversion or abandonment of religion is illegal, save for conversions to the Pavlovian Orthodox Church.
Mixed marriage is illegal.
Proselytism is illegal.
Believers are in obligation to follow their religion in its entirety, with preference being given to the most stringent and orthodox interpretation should there be a dispute.
Religious leaders have the right and obligation to enforce religious laws upon the faithful and enjoy cooperation with the secular authorities for the purpose of punishing violators of religious laws.
In addition to the religious punishment, a Pavlovian subject who violated the tenets of his religion will be punished by the secular authorities, with possible punishment ranging from being sold into serfdom to being whipped 70 times and exiled from the Realm.

The Act was proposed by HIH Grand Prince Jaroslav Aleksandrovych, known as a staunch proponent of religious conservatism. When approached by the State Gazette to comment on his reasons for proposing the Act, the Grand Prince said that "safeguarding the religious status quo in the Empire is absolutely essential. In order to maintain stability, it is crucial that only traditional Pavlovian religions be allowed to operate freely, and that the faithful follow their religion in its entirety. If as a Christian you only know that Jesus loves everyone, as a Muslim you only know that Muhammad was a prophet, and as a Jew you only know that you shouldn't eat pork, and disregard everything else, then you are practicing your religion wrong and we will not let this happen in Pavlov."