Moscow Orthodox Metropolitan Praises Belarusian President’s Religious Policy

11.10.2002, 15:31

Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, who is currently on a visit to Belarus, praised “the wise religious policy” of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko supports Orthodoxy and is expected to sign a law that will give the Russian Orthodox Church a favored position in Belarus. This news was reported by the information agency ForUm on 10 October 2002.

During his meeting with Metropolitan Volodymyr, President Lukashenko expressed his support for Orthodoxy. The government will support the Orthodox Church in Belarus, said Lukashenko. He also added that “Orthodoxy is the leading religion in the country and has a great influence on social and political processes.” In addition, President Lukashenko is expected to sign the law “On Freedom of Conscience,” which has been recently passed by the Belarusian Parliament. The Council of Europe, the US Department of State, and international civil rights organizations criticized the law because of the favored position it gives to the Russian Orthodox Church. According to observers, after the law is signed, the number of registered churches and religious communities in Belarus will substantially decrease.

Source: http://ukr.for-ua.com