OCU “hierarch”: Our priests don’t want to join AFU, and it frustrates me

Klyment Kushch. Photo: Radio Liberty

OCU “Metropolitan” Klyment Kushch criticized clerics of his structure who refuse to serve as chaplains in the army.

“There is a problem with chaplains in the army. There aren’t enough. And, to my great regret, the overwhelming majority of clergy do not want to go to the troops. And this annoys me, this frightens me, and I cannot understand it,” Kushch complained.

He also condemned the Council of Churches, which “raises before the president the question of granting clergy a reservation from going to the troops.”

“Excuse me, how can someone stand at the cathedra, on the ambo, urging people to go defend the state of Ukraine, while themselves looking for a reservation – and then also running to DESS and demanding the right to go abroad because they are tired,” the “hierarch” said indignantly.

He called on the state not to grant religious organizations any reservations or permission to leave the country until military chaplain posts in the army are filled.

“This is improper. If you are a shepherd, then go ahead of those whom you address. You cannot tell someone, ‘Go to war,’ knowing that he may die, and then say, ‘And I will pray here for you.’ That is not of God, that is not Christian,” Kushch stressed.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU “hierarch” urged Ukrainians “to stop the drama at TRCs” and to go to the front instead.

Read also