Watchdogs require explanations from Ministry of Culture due to pressure on the UOC
According to the organisation's representatives, giving such evaluaitons by the Ministry is akin to hate mongering. Human rights defenders explained that under the legislation the Ministry of Culture has no right «to give its assessment for the actions of physical persons, including the definition of such actions as «anti-Ukrainian», given that the law does not prohibit «maintaining of business, diplomatic, and economic relations with representatives of a foreign state – the Russian Federation, as well as with citizens who are a part of «DNR» and «LNR» formations, except for the cases when such actions make up body of the crime.»
According to human rights activists, «condemnation, defamation, discrimination or public accusation of persons – representatives of the religious confession for their commitment of actions not prohibited by the law and thus lawful – are unacceptable.»
Owing to this «Public Advocacy» requested the Ministry of Culture to clarify if the agency has the information on the commencement of criminal proceedings against Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea Lazar, Metropolitan of Lugansk and Alchevsk Mitrofan, Metropolitan Platon and priest Alexander Yakushechkin, and what were the grounds to qualify the priests' actions as «anti-Ukrainian» or having a «separatist» character. Besides, the Ministry has to answer what restrictions are foreseen by the Ukrainian legislation with regard to carrying our religious ceremonies on the territories of the Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
On 31 January 2017 the Ministry of Culture published a “Statement as per the separatist and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric and actions of particular clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”, in which the agency accused the UOC clergymen of carrying out religious actions of a worship character upon an order of the RF military and persons who form a part of the «LNR», as well as utterances bearing an anti-Ukrainain character, in the Ministry's opinion.
A number of experts gave a highly negative evaluation of the above statement and called it intimidation of the UOC.
Read also
UOC priest’s home damaged in drone strike on Poltava
The home of Archpriest Kostiantyn Fisun, rector of St. Seraphim Church in Poltava, was damaged in a drone attack.
Kyiv Theological Schools begin enrollment for catechetical courses
The Kyiv Theological Academy has announced enrollment for the St. Peter Mohyla Catechetical Courses for laypeople.
Greek hierarch criticizes new school textbooks containing LGBT propaganda
Metropolitan Seraphim called on parents to monitor school lessons in order to protect their children.
Site blessed for new church construction in Oleksandriia Eparchy
On the feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Metropolitan Boholep laid a foundation capsule for a new church.
World Council of Churches condemns confiscation of Evangelical church in Iran
Secretary General Jerry Pillay demanded the return of the St. Peter's Church compound to believers.
Poland repeals law recognizing same-sex unions concluded in EU
The court ruled that the registration of foreign same-sex unions contradicts the article of the Constitution defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.