Kniazhytsky: Our goal is to implement the OCU's Tomos into law

MP Mykola Kniazhytsky. Photo: prm.ua

An MP from the European Solidarity Party, Mykola Kniazhytsky, argues that the provisions of the Tomos granted to the OCU by the Phanar should become part of the Ukrainian legislation.

"Our goal is the implementation of the Tomos into legislation," the MP said in his blog on espreso.tv.

He stressed that both "the previous and the current presidents called receiving the OCU autocephaly an act of "spiritual independence", and every act of this rank needs implementation in legislation, so as not to become another historical monument, as the enemies of Ukraine and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine want it."

Kniazhytsky recalled that the Tomos was received as a result of "the efforts of the Ukrainian state, and this fact is reflected in the text of the document”.

The parliamentarian proposes to enshrine in law the provisions of the Tomos by means of his draft law No. 8221.

"In the draft law "On ensuring the strengthening of national security in the sphere of freedom of conscience and activities of religious organizations" that I prepared together with the deputies of all factions, it is proposed to ban the activities of the ROC in Ukraine and to streamline the situation in Ukrainian Orthodoxy according to the Tomos. This is a Ukrainian solution to the church issue – with the implementation of the Tomos provisions, respect for the rights of freedom of conscience and religion, as well as a guarantee of non-interference by the state in religious beliefs," the lawmaker wrote.

He rejects the opinion of critics who "persuade that its (Tomos - Ed.) implementation into national legislation will give the OCU the status of a 'state church'".

"This is untrue and legal nonsense," Kniazhytsky says indignantly, "because there is no trace of such a proposal in the draft law. Instead, there is a proposal that the decision to recognize a religious organization as Orthodox will be made by the governing bodies of the OCU."

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada has registered two similar anti-UOC bills. One of them (No 8221) was introduced by Mykola Kniazhytsky, the second one (No 8371) was submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the head of the parliamentary Committee for Humanitarian and Information Policy, Mykyta Poturaev, one of the drafts will be submitted to the Rada. Poturayev also did not rule out that one document will be created from the two.

Read also