Patriarch of the UGCC: I agree to become an organ donor after death

We need to create a culture where people are not afraid to do good even when their earthly path is over.

The Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) expressed this stance live in the interactive program “Open Church” on the issue of organs transplantation, reports the Department of Information of the UGCC.

The program presented the sociological studies, according to which 63% of respondents in Ukraine agreed to become donors, 25% were against, 12% are yet undecided what should be done to them after figures very good, although as compared for example, to Austria, almost 100% of people are ready to become donors after death there.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his complete consent to become an organ donor. “If after death I will have a chance to continue doing good, then why not,” said the head of the UGCC.

In his conviction, we in Ukraine need to develop a culture where people would not be afraid to do good even when their earthly path was over. “If we can do good even after our deaths, that is, if our bodies can save someone’s life after our death, then I suppose this must be done,” said the Head of the Church.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav continues, “I am confident that in Ukraine there are professional, wise doctors, and there are many people who are ready to save another person's life by giving their bodies even after their death. We only need a culture for this. Ukrainian legislation should also complete the appropriate development path, because the current situation only worsens the organ transplant cause and de facto indirectly stimulates the so-called black transplantology.”

“I think we all need to understand what the moral benefit of such an act is, how we need to act personally and how to ensure that patients in need of such help can be saved in their native Ukraine,” the Head of the UGCC underscores.