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

In Bukovina, mass production of kosher bread has been launched

Representatives of the Jewish community called the mass production of kosher bread at the regional level one of the few examples in Ukraine.

Patriarch Porfirije called the faithfulness of the people more important than the number of pilgrims to the Belt

The Serbian Orthodox Church reported the number of believers who came to venerate the Belt of the Mother of God.

Trump presents copy of Sitka Icon of Theotokos to monastery near St. Petersburg

The President of the United States gifted an Orthodox icon to the Trinity-Sergius Hermitage in response to Vladimir Putin's diplomatic gesture in Anchorage.

Persecuted UOC community in Rzhavyntsi celebrates patronal feast

Believers celebrated Pentecost in the church they had built with their own hands after the forcible seizure of their former sanctuary by OCU supporters.

In Madrid, thousands of people march against abortion and euthanasia

Annual march "Sí a la Vida" ("Yes to Life") took place in Spain.

Rivne Eparchy hosts Orthodox youth congress "Unity Cup"

Orthodox youth of the Dubno region gathered for joint prayer, fellowship and spiritual strengthening.