Poltava Regional Council does not support UOC ban in Ukraine

On July 26, 2022, members of the Poltava Regional Council by a majority vote rejected an appeal to the President and the Parliament to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the country, reports the “Poltavschina” website.

At a session of the Poltava Regional Council, deputies considered an appeal to the President and the Verkhovna Rada to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the territory of Ukraine. The prohibition initiative was put forward by Ihor Protsay of the European Solidarity party. According to him, the activity of the UOC threatens national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, generates collaborationism, promotes interreligious hatred and destabilizes the religious environment.

The appeal was supported by 20 out of 63 MPs present at the meeting. Thirty deputies refused to vote, 12 abstained and one voted against it.

In general, none of the parties represented in the Poltava Regional Council showed unanimous support for the UOC ban. Even in the EU, one MP refused to vote.

As reported, Poroshenko's party members in the Poltava Regional Council demanded that the UOC be banned.

Read also

Moldova lacks capacity to maintain 800 temples it intends to seize from Church

According to the Minister of Culture, authorities plan to seize 800 churches from the Moldovan Church, but they lack the capability to manage them.

Court returns seized church to UOC community in Ivankiv

The appellate court declared invalid the re-registration of the UOC community of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Ivankiv.

2,800-year-old seal with biblical symbols found in Israel

Israeli archaeologists have found a stone seal from the era of Judean kings with an inscription in ancient Hebrew.

Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons

The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.

UOC parishes abroad hold memorial services on war anniversary

Clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad prayed on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry performs reading of Great Penitential Canon

Another Bukovynian community, deprived of its church, continues Great Lent services in an adapted facility.