Politologist on pending bill 8371: Govt relies on ex-OPZZh members’ votes
Oleksiy Koshel. Photo: Raskolam.net
The Chairman of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Oleksiy Koshel, suggested that the Verkhovna Rada may not bring draft law 8371, which actually bans the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the session hall due to the position of the party “Opposition Platform - For Life and Peace” on this issue, reports Espresso.
He believes that the authorities do not want to confront the former OPZZh, as the ban on the UOC could lead to the loss of allies in important votes on other key issues. Because of this, draft law 8371 may be removed from the agenda.
At the same time, Koshel believes that this law could be problematic for Ukraine, as America and Europe do not understand that this legislative initiative is not about prohibition or restriction.
"Here it is actually much more complicated. On the one hand, let's be honest, it is understandable that the authorities have certain concerns from our American partners, who have already started to spin this topic, saying that the ban on church organizations is the worst scenario in a democratic country. Our problem is that we have not been able to explain to Europeans and Americans that this bill is not about prohibition and not even about restriction. It is not about the UOC MP at all, it is about how in a democratic country to allow the mechanism of democratic choice by the community of the denomination to which it wants to belong. The temple does not belong to the priest, not to the UOC MP, and the structure itself, and the church organization, the cell, that is, the main decision is made by the church community. We had a big problem when the legislation does not provide an answer to the question – what is an organization or a religious organization," he said.
As reported by the UOJ, about 70 deputies stated that if the draft law is not brought to the Parliament’s session hall next week, they will not vote for any other legislative initiatives.
Read also
Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail
Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.
UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers
Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.
UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God
Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.
Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show
A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.
Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple
The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.
US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition
U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.