Ukraine bans churches with ties to Moscow
The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law banning religious organisations from having links with Russia. They have been given nine months to put an end to such ties, failing which they will face a ban. The law first and foremost targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - not to be confused with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine - which has been formally independent since 2022 but is considered to be affiliated with Moscow.
A threat to national security
Journalist and member of parliament Mykola Kniazhytskyi explains the significance of the new law in Glavkom:
“What is important is that we are not banning religion. Any accusations that the adopted draft law is an attack on religious freedom in Ukraine are sowing discord. Everyone can believe in whatever they want. We are banning the organisation, which is called the Russian Orthodox Church, but which has nothing to do with either the Church or religion. This is an FSB structure that works against the Ukrainian state and poses a threat to national security.”
An unfortunate development
Writing in Lvivska Manufaktura Novyn, blogger Vasyl Kurii does not agree with the general approval of the ban:
“Parliament's banning of the Moscow church is an unfortunate and extreme step because Ukrainians should have thrown these priests out of their churches, villages, towns and country long ago. The closure of the Moscow churches should have been the will of a majority of the people, and not the result of agonising in parliament - which as I understand it does not reflect the religious preferences of a large number of people in the country. Enforced bans by the authorities have never been effective. Now we will have whole communities of 'martyrs' in the underground because many people in this country remain followers of the church that kills.”
A tricky balancing act
Kristeligt Dagblad gauges the situation:
“On one hand, Ukrainians cannot be asked to renounce the Russian cultural heritage that has shaped them. One cannot demand that they de-Russianise their faith. On the other hand, it is legitimate for Ukraine to cut off channels that transport weapons or other resources that aid Russia's war effort - even if these are monasteries or churches. Therefore a great deal depends on how the law is actually implemented. If historical links to Russia are themselves regarded as a burden, this is not the right way forward.”
The pope is wrong
News website Onet criticises Pope Francis for condemning the ban on the Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church:
“For some reason, the pope apparently believes that being a clergyman protects you from responsibility for supporting criminals and thugs who not only destroy order and justice, but above all human lives. Fortunately, he is alone in this view: the Russian Orthodox Church, as an integral part of the Kremlin's war machine, is fortunately already a target of interest for the authorities in Estonia and the Czech Republic, among others.”