Ukrainian Communists Ask Believers’ Forgiveness For Soviet Persecution

The Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) has for the first time officially asked forgiveness for the sufferings of religious believers during the Soviet regime. The CPU’s press service released a statement on 18 September 2001 which deals with various religious themes and has been positively received by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The text is in response to a recent letter of Ukraine’s Yabluko [“Apple”] Party which condemns the Communist Party’s participation in the persecution of religious believers during Soviet times.
The CPU’s new statement is entitled “On the occasion of the Yabluko Party’s address to the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” In it the party asks pardon “from Orthodox Christians and believers of other confessions for the sufferings and hardships which happened to them during the evil times [namely, the Soviet regime].” Petro Symonenko, leader of the CPU and author of the statement, insists that his party is proud of its accomplishments. But in the letter he adds that the CPU honestly acknowledges its mistakes, among which was the position of the Communist Party towards believers during the Soviet era. He maintains that “Communists will not allow similar policies to be repeated and will do everything so that the faithful have no doubt of the sincerity of our position in acknowledging these tragic pages of history.” The CPU’s statement accuses the current government of Ukraine of interfering in church affairs, a violation of the Ukrainian constitution. The party also warns about the politicization of religious life in the country, which may cause tensions in interdenominational relations and lead to civil conflicts. The letter states that all religious confessions should be equal before the law but it admits the special historic role of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose interests the party always tries to defend. The Communists think that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma should ask forgiveness from the UOC-MP for inviting Pope John Paul II to Ukraine despite the UOC-MP’s protests. The CPU claims that Kuchma “organized the head of the Vatican’s illegal visit to Ukraine” and thereby supported “Catholic proselytism.” The press service of the UOC-MP disclosed that this statement from the CPU was totally unexpected by Bishop Mytrofan, executive director of the metropolitanate of the UOC-MP. The bishop stated, “I think that this address should be regarded as a positive sign.” Bishop Mytrofan continued, “Praise God that the Communists have found the strength to admit that they allowed these injustices to happen to believers and to the Orthodox Church especially.” He expects that in addition to these words asking for forgiveness there will also be corresponding actions. Political analysts have noted that, as parliamentary elections approach, Ukrainian political parties are more often appealing to the faithful. As the Church is one of the most influential and trusted institutions in Ukrainian society, its support is very important for political success.