Volker: US doesn't participate in resolution of religious issues in Ukraine
US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker
The United States is a secular power that is based on the principle of religious freedom and does not interfere in the resolution of religious issues in Ukraine, said Kurt Volker in an interview with "Ekho Moskvy" ("Echo of Moscow"), commenting on the topic of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church.
According to the American diplomat, the issue of the Church's autocephaly in Ukraine is viewed as political only by the Russian side, since "Russia does not want Ukraine to have an independent Church", and added that such issues should be resolved by religious authorities, in particular, the Ecumenical Patriarch and his Synod.
At the same time, Volker stressed that the US is concerned about the situation when freedom of religion is restricted by some external force and they will always support the faithful: "We believe that all people have the right to choose their religion, find their path to God, and we protect this principle within our own country."
"In this case, a situation has arisen where many believers, many citizens of Ukraine believe that they are being denied their own interpretation of their religion, in affirming their own path to God and self-realization as believers," the US Special Representative said. "And we support the right of every person to have their own beliefs and their own respect for these beliefs."
As reported by the UOC, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on September 25 that the United States supports the adherents of autocephaly in Ukraine.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".