‘A whole package of anti-Christian laws’: Ukrainian Orthodox Church commented on the Rada’s adoption of the bill aimed at its prohibition

In the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it is believed that the draft law 8371, which was passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in its first reading, does not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Ukraine.

This information was reported in the organization’s Telegram channel.

Metropolitan Kliment, the Chairman of the Synodal Information and Enlightenment Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, criticized this decision.

“The word ‘passed’ seems to be the least suitable for describing what happened in the Rada. Deputies were openly threatened and blackmailed. But, in general, this law is not even about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The parliament has already adopted a whole package of anti-Christian bills. And much more of the same is expected. I would like to remind you that in the midst of the war and bombings of Ukrainian cities, deputies were busy developing gender legislation and legalizing ‘medical’ narcotics. Today, with such enthusiasm, they banned the Church. In the near future, Deputy Inna Sovsun promises to pass a law on same-sex partnerships. Obviously, this is not the limit of their fantasies. All of this is completely contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine, but it is being pushed through the parliament. Moreover, those who elected the deputies did not delegate them to deal with such matters even in peacetime. And during the war, the euphoria of the deputies over the draft law passed in the first reading looked no less cynical than their multi-million-dollar foreign villas and weddings. It’s a disgrace for which the entire Ukrainian people bear responsibility before their foreign partners,” said Metropolitan Kliment.

Today, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in the first reading on draft law No. 8371, titled “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine.”

This draft law is commonly referred to as the “ban on religious organizations associated with Russia.” It is a government-sponsored bill that paves the way for the potential prohibition of the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine through legal proceedings. During the winter, the Parliamentary Scientific and Expert Directorate concluded that this draft law, effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, contradicts the Constitution and could cause a schism in society. It was also criticized by the World Council of Churches.

“A ban or any other collective punishment against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a whole, without clear and public evidence that the church itself poses a real threat to Ukraine’s national security, will, in our view, be deeply divisive and counterproductive,” noted the Council.