Patriarch Lubomyr: We Have Claims Only On Property Which Belonged to UGCC Before 1939

Cardinal Lubomyr (Huzar) told www.life.comments.ua about the plans of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church regarding the establishment of the patriarchate and restitution of the Church property.

In answer to the question if UGCC plans to raise the question of restitution of its property, Patriarch Lubomyr stressed that the Church has claims on the property which belonged to it at least before 1939.

“At that time, each parish in the rural areas had a land plot at the expense of which the priest lived. We would be glad to receive that property back. We had houses, schools, monasteries belonging to the Church, which were confiscated by the state. Today, religious buildings are returned, but not all of them. There are many other things which allowed the Church to fulfill its ministry. For instance, schools, the press require much money. We have to gather funds, that is it becomes a burden to the members of our Church. If we had the property which we used to have, it would be easier to cover those various additional expenses. Therefore, we lay claims against our state. We try to provide detailed information about what belonged to us,” said the hierarch.