Ukrainian Christian Churches urge V. Yanukovych to veto amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience
4 November 2012
On behalf of our churches uniting tens of millions of believing citizens of Ukraine, strongly urge the President as the guarantor of the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens to veto the draft law № 10221, adopted by Parliament on October 16, 2012, in part to prevent any change in Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations".
This was stated in the appeal of the Meeting of representatives of the Christian Churches of Ukraine to the President signed on October 26 by the chairman of the Meeting, the senior bishop of the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine Mykhailo Panochko.
The appeal states that after the meeting of Viktor Yanukovych with heads of churches and religious organizations on October 17, 2012, it became known that some ministries and agencies are trying to offer the Presidential Administration alternative solution to this issue, which is to prepare and amend the above mentioned Law after its signature and entry into force.
"Please note that the option of changing the Law after its entry into force is not acceptable under any circumstances! Since this will lead to a significant deterioration of the legislation in the area of registration of religious organizations and its implementation, and most importantly – to the outrage of the religious community in connection with breach of trust of Churches who hoped for the enforcement of our agreements, your promises and the promises of officials at different levels on the avoidance of any change in the Law on freedom of conscience in the absence of a consensus support from denominations", – emphasized in appeal.
According to representatives of the churches, the more confusion and outrage causes the fact that some ministries and agencies are trying to "push through" such significant changes that affect the registration of religious organizations, monitoring their activities and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly without any discussion in Parliament and in the unanimous objections of the religious community.
"To veto the draft law № 10221 is the only solution that can prevent the aggravation of inter-church conflicts and indignation of the religious community, to keep interdenominational peace and a high level of religious freedom in Ukraine", – sums up the appeal of Christian Churches.
Appeal was supported by the leaders and authorized representatives of such churches:
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate;
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate);
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church;
- Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine;
- All-Ukrainian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christians-Baptists;
- Brotherhood of Independent Churches and Missions of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Ukraine;
- The Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine;
- Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church;
- Ukrainian Lutheran Church.
It will be recalled that during the meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations emphasized the need to veto the amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", which was adopted by Parliament on October 16, without debate and in violation of previous agreements.
Translation by Svitlana Sydorenko
© 2012 The Institute for Religious Freedom – Kyiv, Ukraine
www.irf.in.ua
