Court halts process of involuntary renaming of UOC
The court has halted the process of involuntary renaming of the UOC
According to the Judges, making changes to the name of the UOC at the present time (before the court decision on the case) may lead to unjustified state intervention in the affairs of a religious organization. The press service of the court announced this in a statement, reports the “Ukrainian News” agency.
"The Kiev District Administrative Court made this decision based on an appeal that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church filed against the Ministry of Culture’s decision that required the Kiev metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a number of religious organizations to change their official names and submit the relevant amendments to their statute for registration by April 26, 2019,” it says.
The court satisfied the application of the UOC, given that the renaming may significantly complicate or make impossible the restoration of the violated rights of the UOC.
In addition, in the court’s opinion, the implementation of the currently challenged act (until the case is resolved) may lead to unjustified state intervention in the activity of a religious organization as a legal entity.
At the same time, the court notes that the adoption of measures to secure a claim does not cause actual resolution of the dispute since it is aimed solely at preserving the existing situation until the merits stage of a case is over.
It should be noted that the court involved 265 religious organizations as third parties.
Read also
U.S. House of Representatives passes ban on sex-change surgeries for minors
The lower house of Congress supported an initiative limiting medical interventions that could have irreversible consequences for the health of minors.
Armenian Church to appeal to international bodies over government pressure
The decision was made by the Supreme Spiritual Council in Etchmiadzin against the backdrop of criminal cases, pressure on the clergy, and the state's attempts to interfere in church life.
Pashinyan's supporters attempt to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia
The confrontation around the Armenian Apostolic Church intensified after rebellious hierarchs called for the Catholicos's resignation and attempted to exert forceful pressure in Etchmiadzin.
Persecuted community of Maliatyntsi celebrates first patronal feast after seizure
In Bukovyna, the faithful of the St. Nicholas community in the village of Maliatyntsi celebrated the Feast Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia for the first time after the church seizure.
European authorities downplay scale of Christian persecution, report says
Human rights defenders reported an increase in attacks on believers in the EU and pointed out that official statistics do not reflect the real level of anti-Christian hostility.
Mukachevo Eparchy bishops congratulate orphaned children on St Nicholas Day
Metropolitan Theodore and Bishop Hilarion visited the “New Family” children’s shelter in Uzhhorod.