People's deputy demands that Shmygal explain his statement on financing OCU
Denis Shmygal and the OCU head Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: pomisna.info
People's deputy and a member of the Committee for Economic Development Nikolai Skorik demanded that Prime Minister Denis Shmygal explain his statement on Ukraine’s financing the OCU, the MP said on his Facebook page.
The parliamentarian drew attention to Shmygal's statement about "full social and economic support" for the OCU by the state, which sounded from the lips of the Prime Minister during a meeting with the head of the Phanar.
Such a statement by the official runs counter to the status of Ukraine as a secular state enshrined in the Constitution, the deputy stressed.
“In addition, it seems unclear what powers of the Cabinet of Ministers have to provide such support (including financial) to specific church institutions, which means securing specific services, benefits, privileges, etc.,” Skoryk noted.
Nikolai Skorik asked the head of government to explain how to understand his words about support for the OCU if the state is separated from religious structures by law.
As reported earlier, at a meeting with the head of the Phanar, Denis Shmygal said that the state is financing the OCU.
Read also
U.S. bishops call for Church unity on Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Assembly of Bishops of the USA has issued an encyclical for the Triumph of Orthodoxy on Church unity, veneration of icons, and support for pan-Orthodox ministry.
OCU organizes harassment of businessman for aiding UOC
Hryshchuk called for boycotting the business of the entrepreneur who built a UOC church in the Rivne region.
Head of Lavra Reserve: I believe UOC monks will move to the OCU
Ostapenko said there are 140 UOC monks and novices on the territory of the Lower Lavra.
"Shield of Judah": Biblical name given to operations against Iran
A joint Israeli–US military operation against Iran has received a code name referencing the biblical forefather of the Jewish royal line.
In Syria, Islamic militants behead statues of Christ and Virgin Mary
Vandals beheaded statues of the Lord and the Mother of God at the entrance to the "Cave of the Virgin Mary" in the village of Al-Basiya near the coastal city of Banias in Syria.
Icon with particle of Gabriel Urgebadze's relics to be brought to Uzhhorod from Georgia
The holy icon, painted in Georgia, will be brought to the Holy Trinity Church of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC.