VR Speaker: Banning UOC is not on Parliament’s agenda
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that the bill to ban the UOC will not be considered in the near future.
"We have been discussing this issue for a long time within our political groups. And despite the fact that everyone somewhere inside has their own internal decision <...>, we have agreed as follows: during the war we have no right to pass any law that splits the Ukrainian society," Stefanchuk said.
As reported, in March 2022 several draft laws to ban the UOC were registered in the Verkhovna Rada at once. One of them was authored by Oksana Savchuk, an MP of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, whose regional centre has only one temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhaylo Podoliak was critical of the idea of banning the UOC and urged not to speculate on issues of faith.
Read also
Bethlehem authorities urge pilgrims to visit Palestine for Christmas
The Bethlehem Council hopes for the restoration of the Christmas spirit in the city.
Vatican at OSCE calls for immediate cessation of military actions in Ukraine
An RCC cardinal spoke at the OSCE session, calling for dialogue and lasting peace.
Ukraine is on the verge of demographic collapse, Reuters
According to researchers, the country's population is rapidly declining, and the birth rate is falling three times faster than in the pre-war years.
Trump lights National Christmas Tree and reсalls Christ
The US President reminded the present of the birth of Christ and called to restore the true Christian meaning of Christmas.
French pensioner donates one million euros for church restoration
A 91-year-old resident of the village of La Chapelle-sur-Averon has donated his entire inheritance to the restoration of the main church in his settlement.
In Sumy, UOC bishop and cleric receive medals "For Dignity and Patriotism"
Metropolitan Yevlohiy (Gutchenko) and Archpriest Oleksandr Petrenko were awarded for their long-term support of Ukraine's defenders.