Trust in Church as a moral authority is decreasing – Razumkov Center study

As of 2019, less than half of Ukrainians consider the Church a moral authority. And the percentage has been decreasing since 2010. Such data of sociological research were presented today at the Round table "Religion and Power in Ukraine: interaction issues", organized by the Razumkov Center and the Representation of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine.

In 2019, 43.2% of respondents admitted that the Church is a moral authority for them, 38.7 said that it is not, and 18.1% were undecided.

For comparison, 56.3% said Yes in 2010, 49.9% in 2013, 45.3% in 2016, and 26.5% said no in 2010, 34.5% in 2013, 37.1% in 2016 and 38.7% in 2019.

The results of a sociological study by the Razumkov Center show that in 2019, only in the West of Ukraine, the majority of respondents treat the Church as a moral authority – 64.9% (while 17.5% do not). In the Center, those who think so also prevail over those who said no - 42.9% and 34.3%. But in the South and East of Ukraine, the majority does not consider the Church a moral authority: 46.1% and 60.1%, respectively, do not consider, 34% and 28.4%, respectively.

Regarding trust in religious leaders, the most trusted are Pope Francis-41.5%, Primate of the UOC Epifaniy - 38.7%, Primate of the UOC MP Onufriy - 32.4%, ex-Primate of the UOC KP Filaret - 28.5%, Primate of the UGCC Sviatoslav - 27.5%, Patriarch Bartholomew - 31%. But Patriarch Kirill became an anti-leader: 15.8% trust him, while 44.7% do not. He's the only one with distrustful preferences.