Amsterdam: Law 8371 is to be voted on next week
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Photo: portal.lviv
It has become known that MPs of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plan to introduce bill No. 8371, which effectively bans the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, into the agenda for next week. American lawyer for the UOC Robert Amsterdam wrote about this on his Twitter on July 17.
"The timing is highly provocative, coming right after the RNC – pushing an illegal bill to attack freedom of religion; a real slap in the face of Ukraine's benefactors," Amsterdam said.
The lawyer emphasized that he supports Ukraine's sovereignty and continued US assistance, but billions of taxpayer dollars require at least a commitment to the rule of law and human rights.
"The US can never be involved in funding the repression of an entire religion based on false pretense – it is against international law," he wrote.
As the UOJ reported, the U.S. Vice President could become a politician who criticized the persecution of the UOC. U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has chosen Ohio Senator JD Vance for this position.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.