The Conference of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine turned to the Prime-Minister Denys Shmyhal with a request to mitigate quarantine measures and allow the presence of a greater number of believers at Liturgies.
The Conference of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine turned to the Prime-Minister Denys Shmyhal with a request to mitigate quarantine measures and allow the presence of a greater number of believers at Liturgies.
The bishops note that from may 11, the lifting of the quarantine measures will begin: they will open parks, recreation areas, hairdressers', beauty salons, summer grounds of cafes and restaurants. The government is also considering allowing the operation of take-away catering establishments, wholesale and retail trade in non-food products (except for entertainment areas and food courts in the shopping center); the work of consumer service institutions, museums, libraries, as well as training sports teams on closed bases, etc…
"We want to express our concern about the fact that at the stage when it is supposed to significantly lift restrictions in public life, nothing is said about the functioning of the Church," the appeal says.
Roman Catholic bishops note that the activities that the Church conducts are no less important for people than the institutions of trade or service provision.
"We are happy that hairdressers', gyms, training centers or other service establishments will be able to earn money, but at the same time, we ask that the faithful of Ukraine be provided with the opportunity to take care of their spiritual health, a good state of mind, and spiritual strength necessary for our daily competitions. One of the factors that destroy a person's immune system is the lack of hope and the stress that results from it. And we draw our hope from the Word of God and the Holy Sacraments, which are a sign of the presence of the Risen Christ! " the hierarchs write in their address.
"We appeal to You as pastors of the Church entrusted to us, responding to the spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst of our faithful, with a request to ease the quarantine measures and restrictions on the activities of the Church and allow more believers to attend the Liturgy, per the size of a particular Church, taking into account the observance of protection measures," the document states.