The
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) has released the full text, in
English, of Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk’s response to the
letter from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine “concerning possible
grounds for terminating the activity of the religious organizations of
the UGCC.”
In Ukraine, churches and other religious organizations
must be registered with the government in order to be recognized as a
legal entity. The letter from the Ministry of Culture involved a threat
to rescind the UGCC’s legal status, alleging that Ukrainian Greek
Catholic priests had violated the law by taking part in the
demonstrations in Independence Square (“Maidan”) in Kyiv.
The
head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Major Archbishop
Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, made the letter public earlier this
week. In a press conference, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav said that the
Church is not directly involved in the political process. He insisted,
though, that it cannot stand aside when its faithful ask for spiritual
care. To be with his faithful is the duty of the priest, a duty
connected with the very mission of the Church. “Our church has always
been true to this mission that Christ entrusted to our Church” the Major
Archbishop said, “and will remain so for the future and despite any
threats.”
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav said, “I hope that the
State authorities, especially those entrusted with the task of serving
people in guaranteeing their right for religious freedom in Ukraine,
will be wise enough not to commence a persecution of the Church, and
thus shift the current socio-political crisis into the religious sphere
as well.”
Pope
Francis has expressed his prayerful support for the Ukrainian people.
In a letter dated 23 December, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
assured the “beloved Ukrainian people” of the Holy Father’s “prayers
for peace and harmony.”
Here is the full statement by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk:
For
the first time since Ukraine’s Independence a threat has been voiced
“to terminate the activities of responsible religious organizations” of
the UGCC. This was stated in an official letter of the Ministry of
Culture of Ukraine dated 3 Jan. 2014 (Prot. № 1/3/13-14) and signed by
the First Deputy Minister, Tymofii Kokhan.
The reason for such a
reaction by the government office is religious activity, allegedly
carried out by “the representatives, in particular of the Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church, on Independence Square in Kyiv during December of
last year and in the new year 2014, in violation of Ukraine’s
legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.”
It
should be recalled that precisely in this year we are commemorating the
25th anniversary of the legalization of the UGCC in the former Soviet
Union. The times have long passed when church buildings were ruined and
priests serving their faithful were arrested or even killed. This is
why we are so deeply disturbed by the statement voiced today in an
independent Ukraine, that ministry carried out by the Ukrainian Greek
Catholic Church might be considered “grounds for commencing legal action
for the termination of its activity”.
Considering the official
nature of this letter, which touches the very existence of the UGGC and
its ministry, and considering that the given interpretation of the Law
of Ukraine “On freedom of conscience and religious organizations” has an
impact on the entire religious environment of Ukraine, I feel it my
duty to state the following.
The Church is not a participant in
the political process, but at the same time, it cannot stand aside when
its faithful ask for spiritual care. Our faithful, together with other
citizens of Ukraine, in a peaceful way based on Christian and human
values, have expressed their views on Ukraine’s European choice. These
values have their source in God’s law, and Christ, the Saviour, has
entrusted to us their preservation and charged us, by the power of the
Holy Spirit to carry out His mission “to preach the good news to the
poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim a year
acceptable to the Lord” (cfr. Lk. 4, 18). The presence of the priest
there, where his faithful are, is a fundamental part of his pastoral
ministry. It is the duty of the priest to be with his faithful, a duty
that flows from the very mission of the Church. Our Church has always
been true to this mission that Christ has entrusted to it, and will
remain so in the future despite any threats.
Based on the
principle of religious freedom – a basic human right, a priest is free
to pray wherever his faithful are. The realization of such a right does
not require the special permission of the State. The Church recognizes
the right of the faithful to pray and to satisfy their spiritual needs
at all times and in all circumstances. Today, at a time when dialogue
between the government and the citizen is wanting, those who believe in
God feel a special need to pray for peace and tranquillity in our
country, and for an end to the violence that has violated the dignity
and the constitutional rights of the citizens of Ukraine.
The
official position of our Church regarding the present socio-political
situation is laid out in a series of addresses issued, both on behalf of
the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and in common with the members of
the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations
(AUCCRO). The Church reserves the right to assess the situation in the
country, and determine if there are violations of human rights and of
the principles of public morality which flow from God’s law and are
reflected in the social teaching of the Church.
I hope that the
State authorities, especially those entrusted with the task of serving
people in guaranteeing their right for religious freedom in Ukraine,
will be wise enough not to commence a persecution of the Church, and
thus shift the current socio-political crisis into the religious sphere
as well.
I believe that the efforts made by all Churches and
Religious Organizations in Ukraine towards the avoidance of violence and
hatred, together with the preaching of peace and mutual understanding
among diverse groups of our society, will not be a reason for mistrust
or tension in Church-State relations.
+ Sviatoslav
Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych,
Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church