Committee of Cabinet of Ministers Concerned About Attempts to Distort Decision Regarding Vetoing Bill on Freedom of Worship

Representatives of a number of denominations addressed President Viktor Yanukovych and the Head of the Committee for Ensuring Rights of Religious Organizations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Vice Prime Minister Raisa Bogatyriova regarding attempts to distort the position of the churches and religious organizations, the Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) reported.

The address says that at the session of the Committee on October 22, 2012, with the participation of representatives of denominations and governmental ministries, a joint decision was passed as to the necessity to veto Bill 10221 to prevent alterations to the effective Law of Ukraine On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.

According to the representatives of denominations, the decision of the committee was then worded ambiguously, with reference to the results of the discussion but without specifying them and without specifying any concrete time terms of settlement of the issue.

According to Kmu.gov.ua, the decision of the committee in the minutes of the meeting reads: “The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine is to submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposals based on the results of the discussion of the issue of alterations to the Law of Ukraine On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations envisaged in the law passed by the Supreme Council of Ukraine.”

The representatives of the denominations stated: “This week, we have learned from representatives of the authorities alarming information that the ambiguous wording in the protocol decision of the Committee of 22/10/2012 is being used by respective Ministries as the basis for recommendations regarding signing by the President of Bill 10221 for the purpose of correction of the Law of Ukraine on Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations in future. This interpretation of the decision of the Committee by some officials does not correspond to the reality or the results of the discussion during the session!”

The members of the Committee reminded that the position of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations remains the same as the heads of denominations repeatedly stressed that the option of correction of the Law of Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations upon coming into effect of Bill 10221 is absolutely unacceptable.

The heads of denominations earlier stated in their letter: “We view the development by the Ministry of Justice and adoption by the Supreme council of Bill 10221 as steps to destabilization of religious situation in the society, lowering of the level of freedom of confession in Ukraine, putting  significant obstacles in the way of spiritual and social ministries of the churches and religious organizations.”

According to the hierarchs, the veto is necessary because by this decision the parliamentary majority completely ignored the position of the religious community and the agreements reached between the Council of Churches and the author of the bill, Permanent Representative of the President, Yurii Miroshnychenko, and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

The religious leaders reminded the president of the promise given at the first meeting with members of AUCCRO on April 21, 2011, that no alterations would be made to the laws on the freedom of worship without support thereof by the denominations. However, the bill was passed without discussion or consideration of any amendments proposed for the second reading.