Churches Want To Hear Final Wording of Religious Bill

It was stated at the session of the Secretariat of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) of 4 April held under the chairmanship of Archbishop Grygoris Buniatian that the Churches and religious organizations were left outside the law-making process associated with the alterations to the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations.” So reported the Institute For Religious Freedom (IRF).

Representatives of the denominations expressed concern over the fact that despite the instruction of Ukraine’s President, the final wording of the bill which was to eliminate the defects of Bill 10221 signed by the President has not been revealed to the members of AUCCRO so far. The members of the Secretariat of AUCCRO stated the lack of systematic dialogue and transparent cooperation with the religious community in the law-making area on the part of the Government. Therefore, the participants of the session decided to address the President and Premier again setting out the position of AUCCRO because since the adoption of the alterations to the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations” half a year ago, the Government has not made known the way in which it is going to fulfill the President’s instruction to ensure the freedom of worship in terms of legislation.

At the next meeting next week, a number of addresses on problems of protection of the Institute of Family and Moral Values will be submitted for the consideration of the heads of denominations.

AUCCRO is concerned over the fact that the Government’s Bill 2342 aimed to strengthen counteraction against discrimination will actually provide possibilities for propaganda of homosexuality and restrict the rights of the supporters of the traditional family, especially believers to freely express their position.