President signed the law on chaplains’ activity in prisons

President of Ukraine signed the law that regulates the activities of the clergymen (chaplains) in the institutions of the State Penitentiary Service.

Law №419-VIII “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on regulation of the activities of clergymen (chaplains) in the facilities and institutions belonging to the jurisdiction of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine”was adopted by Ukrainian Parliament on May 14, 2015.

The law regulates the activities of clergymen in the penitentiary system, in particular, itbrings in the pastoral care of prisoners and persons taken into custody, which is entrusted on clergymen (chaplains) of authorized religious organizations, whose statutes are registered according to the established procedure. The law also establishes the inviolability and protection by the law of the secret of the confession of prisoners and persons taken into custody.

Organization ofpastoral care of prisoners in the penitentiary system involves the establishment of an advisory body for coordination of the pastoral care of prisoners, the procedure of special training of clergymen and the possibility of visiting penitentiary institutions by chaplains.

According to the law, the administration of penal institutions must ensure confidentiality of meetings of the convictswith clergymenand assist in organizing the pastoral care of prisoners.

However, according to this law, pastoral care activities should not violate the statutory and other legal acts and the order of serving the sentence. It was reported by the press service of the President of Ukraine.