UGCC and RCC urge power not to be like so-called developed democracies

The bishops of the UGCC and the RCC adopted a joint communiqué on quarantine restrictions in Ukraine. Photo: kmc.media

The bishops of the UGCC and the RCC in Ukraine called on the Ukrainian authorities not to be likened to the so-called developed democracies, which close churches during a pandemic. This is stated in a joint communiqué of the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic bishops on quarantine restrictions in Ukraine, the text of which was published on Wednesday, December 9, on the UGCC website.

Thanking the physicians, believers and pastors, "who in the conditions of quarantine restrictions maintain their spiritual zeal and seek more and more new ways to provide spiritual care to their faithful and accompany them in this difficult period of our recent history", the UGCC and RCC bishops also thanked "the Ukrainian government, which took heed of our arguments and did not implement the act inherent in authoritarian systems that encroach on the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and close churches, which, unfortunately, has happened even in some countries with the so-called developed democracy."

It is not specified in their joint communiqué which countries with the "so-called developed democracy" the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic bishops mean.

"We hope that in the future the actions of our state authorities will be timely and will be the result of solid expert research and professional opinions aimed at protecting the health of every citizen and supporting the most vulnerable groups in our society," added representatives of the UGCC and RCC.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that a lockdown in Ukraine will be introduced after Orthodox Christmas.

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