World Council of Churches addresses President and Speaker with a request to withdraw anti-church bills

The message reads in particular:

"The Commonwealth of the World Council of Churches, the most open and large ecumenical organization that counts three hundred and forty-eight member churches representing more than one hundred and ten countries and five hundred million Christians, is deeply concerned about the intention of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to include in the agenda of tomorrow's meeting the bill No. 4128" On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations", as well as draft law No. 4511 "On the special status of religious organizations whose governing centers are located in the state, which is recognized by the Verkhovna Rada as an aggressor country."

As an ecumenical organization, for all seventy years of its existence, upholding the principle of religious freedom and opposing all forms of discrimination in all regions of the world, the World Council of Churches believes that the adoption of the above-mentioned draft laws will jeopardize the principle of freedom of religion and equality of all Churches and religious communities in Ukraine and may cause a new wave of tension in the Ukrainian society.

Appreciating all the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to strengthen democracy and improve Ukrainian legislation in order to bring it in line with international standards, we are nevertheless convinced that these two draft laws run counter to the efforts being made in Ukraine to promote democracy. We urge that these bills bringing about negative implications be withdrawn."

It should be reminded that the clergy of the UOC, representatives of many other Ukrainian confessions, as well as a number of experts, deputies, including the Human Rights Commissioner Valeriya Lutkovskaya, opposed the adoption of draft laws No. 4128 and No. 4511. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia urged the leaders of the "Norman Quartet," world religious and political figures, to prevent the adoption of discriminatory laws.

More than 300 thousand signatures were passed by UOC believers to deputies of the Verkhovna Rada and the majority districts, demanding to withdraw consideration of the mentioned laws. With the blessing of the hierarchs of the UOC, believers are holding prayer services.

Today, on May 18 at 9:00, the UOC believers gathered near the walls of the Parliament in defense of their Church.

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