After ban on Ukraine's Orthodox Church, widespread discontent among believers, West silent on religious freedom issue
Ukraine’s parliament has enacted a ban on the activities of religious groups associated with the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith groups that support Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This move is widely perceived as targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), despite its claims of independence from Moscow.
The new legislation provides the government with the legal authority to prohibit any religious group deemed excessively linked to Russia or supportive of its military actions in Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada passed the bill on Tuesday with 265 votes in favor and 29 against.
Although the bill specifically targets the Russian Orthodox Church, its primary focus is on the UOC, which has traditionally been affiliated with the Russian church. The UOC maintains that it has severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and pledged loyalty to Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian government argues that the UOC remains canonically connected to the Russian church and its Moscow-based patriarch, who has described the Russian invasion as a holy war. In response, Pope Francis has criticized Ukraine’s decision, emphasizing that Christians should be free to pray and that churches should not be dismantled.
Pope Francis expressed concern for the freedom of worship, stating, "A person does not commit evil by praying" and calling on Ukrainian leaders to allow worshippers to pray in their chosen places of worship. He urged that no Christian church should be abolished, directly or indirectly, as churches are sacred and should remain untouched.
The UOC, which has over 6 million members, is affected by this legislation, despite Article 35 of the Ukrainian Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom. The law has sparked significant opposition from UOC adherents, legal experts, and international critics, suggesting that political motivations are overshadowing the rights of millions of believers and international legal standards.
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