Ukraine is 'weaponizing' religion, says Church of Jerusalem
The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem has expressed its disapproval of the legislation aimed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
There can be no justification for curtailing religious practices, Orthodox officials have stressed.
The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, one of the oldest Christian institutions globally, has urged the Ukrainian government to repeal a law that puts the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) at risk of a ban. The legislation, signed into law by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky last month, targets religious organizations suspected of having ties to Russia. This law is aimed at dissolving the UOC, the largest Christian denomination in Ukraine. Previously, the UOC faced significant state-driven pressure, with officials urging priests and congregants to transition to the rival Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is supported by Kiev.
In a recent statement, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the Ukrainian government’s actions, asserting that “such a blanket punishment of countless faithful men and women does not promote unity, nor does it promote peace.” The statement emphasized, “There is no justification to weaponize religious belief practice and we all must allow those who wish to pray to do so in a manner that accords with their conscience.”
While expressing sympathy for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, Jerusalem cautioned against creating further divisions among the faithful or criminalizing innocent individuals due to their religious practices. The statement added, “The Patriarchate of Jerusalem recognizes the challenges and deep divisions that this conflict represents, and is committed to the spiritual mission of dialogue and reconciliation through fraternal discussions.”
The UOC maintains historical and spiritual connections to the Russian Orthodox Church but operates autonomously. The OCU was established in late 2018 during the unsuccessful reelection campaign of then-President Pyotr Poroshenko, leading to a significant schism in the Orthodox Christian community. This new body gained recognition from the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Türkiye, which overturned a decision from the 17th century that acknowledged the Russian Orthodox Church's spiritual authority over territories now recognized as independent Ukraine. In response, the Moscow Patriarchate severed ties with Constantinople, while the Patriarchate of Jerusalem has sought to mend relations.
The Ukrainian law has also drawn criticism from the Catholic Church. Pope Francis expressed concern about the religious freedom situation in Ukraine and urged Kiev to “let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, one of the oldest Christian institutions globally, has urged the Ukrainian government to repeal a law that puts the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) at risk of a ban. The legislation, signed into law by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky last month, targets religious organizations suspected of having ties to Russia. This law is aimed at dissolving the UOC, the largest Christian denomination in Ukraine. Previously, the UOC faced significant state-driven pressure, with officials urging priests and congregants to transition to the rival Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is supported by Kiev.
In a recent statement, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the Ukrainian government’s actions, asserting that “such a blanket punishment of countless faithful men and women does not promote unity, nor does it promote peace.” The statement emphasized, “There is no justification to weaponize religious belief practice and we all must allow those who wish to pray to do so in a manner that accords with their conscience.”
While expressing sympathy for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, Jerusalem cautioned against creating further divisions among the faithful or criminalizing innocent individuals due to their religious practices. The statement added, “The Patriarchate of Jerusalem recognizes the challenges and deep divisions that this conflict represents, and is committed to the spiritual mission of dialogue and reconciliation through fraternal discussions.”
The UOC maintains historical and spiritual connections to the Russian Orthodox Church but operates autonomously. The OCU was established in late 2018 during the unsuccessful reelection campaign of then-President Pyotr Poroshenko, leading to a significant schism in the Orthodox Christian community. This new body gained recognition from the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Türkiye, which overturned a decision from the 17th century that acknowledged the Russian Orthodox Church's spiritual authority over territories now recognized as independent Ukraine. In response, the Moscow Patriarchate severed ties with Constantinople, while the Patriarchate of Jerusalem has sought to mend relations.
The Ukrainian law has also drawn criticism from the Catholic Church. Pope Francis expressed concern about the religious freedom situation in Ukraine and urged Kiev to “let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
