Yelensky: Ukraine has religious pluralism and religious competition

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: DESS

The head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), Viktor Yelensky, stated that Ukraine surpasses Europe in terms of government non-interference in the affairs of religious organizations, as reported by the agency's website.

During the discussion panel "The Relationship between Church and State: Specific Approaches of Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, and the Search for an Optimal Model," he highlighted the importance of religious pluralism and the relationship between church and state in the modern world, especially under the conditions of war.

Yelensky emphasized that Europe has various models of relations between the state and religious organizations: in some countries, the church is separate from the state, in others, a cooperative model is introduced, and in some, a state church exists. However, in his view, the most important aspects are ensuring freedom of religion and belief, as well as mechanisms that extend the privileges historically enjoyed by national churches to the entire religious community.

Yelensky paid special attention to religious pluralism and competition, which he considers crucial for Ukraine:

"Religious pluralism and religious competition are the hallmarks of Ukraine's religious landscape, which play a decisive role in promoting a high level of religious freedom."

He added that, despite the war, Ukraine continues to surpass a number of Western European democracies in terms of government non-interference in the affairs of religious organizations.

As reported by the UOJ, Viktor Yelensky also stated that the state can limit freedom of conscience or religious freedom, even if it does not pertain to national security.

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