Meeting of representatives of the diocesan legal Department of the UOC
UOC lawyers discussed legal issues and recent changes in the legislation of Ukraine in the sphere of freedom of conscience and religion.
5 February 2019 with the blessing of his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onuphrius at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra held a meeting of representatives of the diocesan legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – said the Information-enlightenment Department of the UOC.
Lawyers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church discussed issues of legal support of activities of religious organizations and recent changes in the legislation of Ukraine in the sphere of freedom of conscience and religion.
The meeting was addressed by his Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC.
Metropolitan Anthony stressed the importance of the activities of legal departments in the field, because right now priests and faithful are in need of legal assistance and protection from illegal actions and interventions.
“In the current difficult time for our Church, we are witnessing numerous violations of the rights of believers and religious communities of the UOC. Not a day goes by that there were no reports of the seizure of the temples of our religious communities and incitement to religious hatred, said the Archbishop. – In addition to the unconstitutional bills aimed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we observe not only a violation of the right to freedom of religion, but also violations of the right of ownership to religious organisations of religious communities, the desecration, the looting, desecration and arson”.
Metropolitan Anthony also recalled the decision of the Holy Synod of 17 December 2018 (Journal No. 73), which should be “About violations of the rights of the episcopate, clergy, laity and institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (preventing the Commission of worship, the seizure of churches, Commission of provocations and pressure, threats, etc.) are promptly reported to the Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
The head of the legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archpriest Oleksandr bakhov stated that the Church intends to protect its rights by all legitimate means.