Are Ukranian Catholics angry at the Pope for not more explicitly supporting their desire for a Catholic Ukranian Patriarchate? Or are most Ukrainians more sensitive to the tense ecclesiastical situation of the country?
Blessings
The Ukrainian model of relationship between state and church is democratic one.
Ukraine is an Orthodox country , but it also polyconfessional country.
There are about 30 000 religious organizations.
50 religions functioning at the territory of the country.
There are plenty Protestant Unions there too.
The realization of freedom of conscience is very important for the leaderts of the Churches , because the freedom of conscience is the basic principle of human rights.
There is a tension not only with the Byzantine Catholic Church , but also between three Orthodox Churches.
On the West of Ukraine there are the temple property problems.
And tensions in these cases can be very serious.
But what we must realize is :
- We must have the civilized approach in solving of inter-churches problems.
The Churches of Ukraine must get ready for the constructive dialog to unite ( may be its impossible with the Church ) but at least to unite the believers , to unite the society.
If we would withstand the external factors that inspire the situations of enmity and if we would cooperate in the Spirit of God’s Wisdom , and the ‘Christs peacemaking call’
we could solve the inter-churches problems .
Of course it is easier to say than to do , especially in the matters of rights of the temples property.
But civilized approach is required.
And thank’s be to God , that God delivered us from the extreme religious violence in these tensions.
- Ukraine !
And let God enrich us with his peacemaking wisdom.
