Sumy believers of UOC declare violation of rights by central government

A parish meeting of the Cathedral in Sumy. Photo: portal-pravoslavie.sumy.ua

On February 14, 2021, a parish meeting was held at the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in the city of Sumy, which adopted an appeal to the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and the Prime Minister regarding the violation of constitutional rights and freedoms of religion with the adoption of anti-church laws, reports the official website of the Sumy Eparchy.

The meeting was chaired by the rector and chairman of the parish council of the Cathedral, Metropolitan Eulogius (Gutchenko) of Sumy and Akhtyrka. There was only one issue on the agenda: a written appeal from members of the parish to the central government regarding the violation of constitutional rights and freedoms that were entailed by the Law of Ukraine No. 2673-VIII "On amendments to some laws of Ukraine on the subordination of religious organizations and the procedure for state registration of religious organizations with the status of a legal entity" dated January 17, 2019, and the Law of Ukraine No. 2662-VIII "On Amendments to Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" regarding the name of religious organizations (associations)”.

The letter to the President, the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers says that these laws create conditions for violation of constitutional rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens on religious grounds, and pose a threat to peace and order in the Ukrainian state.

More than 600 residents of Sumy have already supported the letter with their signatures.

As reported, the hierarch of the UOC commented on the possibility of an impending strike by the authorities on the Church.

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