UCCRO complains to DESS about shortage of state registrars for communities

Meeting between UCCRO members and DESS leadership. Photo: DESS website

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) told DESS that a shortage of state registrars is making it more difficult to establish and operate religious communities under martial law. UCCRO representatives raised the issue during a working meeting with DESS leadership devoted to current challenges facing religious organizations during the war.

DESS leadership, headed by Viktor Yelensky, presented religious leaders with the main priorities of state policy in the field of freedom of conscience and then heard proposals and concerns from the meeting participants.

In addition to the shortage of registrars, Council of Churches members raised the issue of integrating communities that have left temporarily occupied territories. Religious leaders called on DESS to help restore the statutory documents of such communities that were lost because of the hostilities.

The two sides also discussed problems with identifying religious organizations in state registries and the licensing of educational programs at theological schools during the war. To address these issues more efficiently, UCCRO representatives said regional DESS offices should be established.

The participants also focused on improving cooperation between central government bodies, local authorities, and religious associations. They discussed possible amendments to certain regulations governing the activities of religious communities.

As the UOJ reported, Dumenko predicted that a UCCRO meeting would be held in Crimea.

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