Cabinet of Ministers orders to simplify the registration of religious organizations

The government has approved a new plan of measures to simplify the registration of religious organizations as legal entities, reports the Institute of Religious Freedom.

This is said in order No. 296-p of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of May 11, 2017, which approved the Action Plan – 2017 for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Civil Society in Ukraine for 2016-2020.

"To develop with the participation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposals for the introduction of a "single window" for the submission of documents on registration of statutes (regulations) of religious organizations, state registration of changes in the data about them for their obtaining the status of a legal entity and the status of non-profitable organization," reads Article 2 of the Action Plan.

This task must be carried out by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Fund until October 2017.

The National Strategy for the Promotion of Civil Society Development in Ukraine for 2016-2020, approved by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of 26.02.2016 No. 68/2016, in para 4.1 provides for "shortening of terms and simplification of registration procedures for civil society organizations, in particular procedures for submitting documents in an electronic form or by the "single window" principle; improvement of the procedure for classifying civil society organizations as non-profit organizations".

In addition, the National Strategy for Human Rights, approved by Presidential Decree No. 501/2015 of August 25, 2015, in section 4 provides for "improving the procedure for state registration of religious organizations".

The bill submitted by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in December 2016 in fulfillment of these instructions did not find support of the religious community. In particular, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Department of Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Ministry of Culture with a request not to make hasty changes in the legislation on registration of religious organizations.

Read also

"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims

DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."

His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise

On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.

Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future

On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.

In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years

In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.

On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra

During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.

In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling

As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.