Scottish Catholic Observer

The Ukrainian Catholic Church has accused its government of Soviet-style repression after it was threatened with new restrictions for backing demonstrators protesting the country’s withdrawal from a deal with the European Union.

Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, (above) major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, spoke at a Kiev news conference this week after receiving a letter from the Ukrainian Culture Ministry complaining of a ‘systematic disregard for the law by some priests’ with ‘alleged support from the church authorities’.

“Our Church has always been true and will remain so for the future mission that Christ the Savior entrusted, despite all the threats,” the 43-year-old Church leader said. “For the first time (since) Ukraine’s independence, we are hearing threats that the Church could be banned in a court action. We thought the time of repression had passed.”

Culture Minister Leonid Novokhatko said the letter, signed by his deputy, Tymophy Kokhan, ‘contained no requirements or threats,’ but only cited Ukraine’s Law on Freedom of Conscience. Article 21 restricts religious services, unless otherwise authorised, to religious buildings, places of pilgrimage, private homes and cemeteries and, despite that, Ukrainian Catholics and other Christians have erected ‘prayer tents’ at the demonstration sites.

“This is not about any attempt to close the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,” Mr Novokhatko said. “To talk of closing any Church in Ukraine in modern conditions would be completely absurd.”

Controversy over the letter followed a rally in last Sunday by 50,000 opponents of the president in the first major action of 2014. It took place  the day after at least 10 were injured by baton-wielding police during a smaller protest outside a court in the capital.

In November and December, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which combines the Byzantine liturgy with loyalty to Rome, backed protests against President Viktor Yanukovich after his late November withdrawal from a landmark deal with the European Union. On December 11, members of the permanent synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church went to Kiev’s Independence Square to lead morning prayer.

Ukrainian Catholic bishops in neighbouring Poland said they felt ‘shock and disbelief’ that ‘organs of the state power’ were ‘threatening to repeat the scenario of 1946’, when the Ukrainian Catholic Church was outlawed by the Soviet regime.

—[email protected]