Government adopts amendments to Chaplaincy Law
Chaplain. Photo: UOJ
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved changes to the Regulations on the Procedure for Issuing a Mandate for the Right to Carry Out Military Chaplaincy Activities, reports Taras Melnychuk, the Permanent Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada.
According to Melnychuk, the regulation "On Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine Regarding Ensuring the Rights of Servicemen and Policemen to Social Protection" has been adopted.
Now, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience has grounds to refuse chaplaincy mandates to a religious organization that is recognized as part of a religious organization whose governing center is located in a state recognized as having committed armed aggression against Ukraine and/or temporarily occupied part of the territory of Ukraine.
As the UOJ reported, in August 2023, the most mandates were issued to the OCU – 494. Of these, only 97 people, or 20%, are in the army. A similar situation exists with the UGCC. Out of 91 mandates, only 25 individuals serve as chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, priests of the UOC are not allowed to serve as chaplains on the front lines, while those from the OCU and UGCC are not willing to.
Read also
Bukovyna faithful bring humanitarian aid to Kherson region residents
The UOC’s Chernivtsi Eparchy delivered food to Holy Spirit Cathedral in Kherson.
Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms
Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.
432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says
According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.
Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations
The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.
Concert held at seized Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU thanked the musical ensemble for choosing the Cherkasy cathedral as the venue for a Baroque music concert.