Verkhovna Rada Committee favors the bill aimed against the UOC

October 5, the Committee on Culture and Spirituality of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported bill №4511 "On special status of religious organizations, whose senior centers are located in the state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada as an aggressor country". The next stage is a vote. This was announced on his Facebook page by the head of the Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov.

"This legislative initiative is discriminatory; it seriously violates the constitutional principle of non-interference and the separation of the state from the Church, – emphasized Bakhov, – and restricts the right to freedom of ideology and religion."

"What kind of European values are we talking about?" – the representative of the UOC said with indignation.

In case the bill should be adopted, a "special status" will be introduced for the UOC. It will be obliged to enter into a special agreement with the state. For this reason, community statutes are to be re-registered. In addition, the appointment of bishops, abbots and governors will take place only in consultation with the Ministry of Culture.

Read also

Iranian rabbi calls for revenge for the assassination of the country's Muslim leader

An Iranian rabbi justified the demand for "blood revenge" with biblical texts and called for the elimination of those who organized the assassination of Khamenei.

Kirovograd Metropolitan consecrated a new church in Ivanivka

Metropolitan Mykola presented church awards to benefactors who helped in the construction of the church.

A massive fire destroyed a synagogue in Hadiach

Rabbi Shneur Deutsch called the fire a tremendous tragedy and promised to rebuild the synagogue despite millions in damages.

Procession held in Izium Eparchy to site where miraculous icon was found

UOC believers took part in a procession to the Vysochynivka spring, where clergy celebrated a water-blessing prayer service.

Islamist drives into crowd at Berlin LGBT Pride march

German authorities described the Islamist attack on participants in a Berlin Pride March as an assault on a free society.

His Beatitude: Legalizing sin will not solve humanity's problems

The Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and spoke about the destructive consequences of legitimizing sin.