FACES AND PLACES: My views are my own (01/19/97)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

My views are my own

Just in case there are still some people out there who labor under the illusion that my columns in any way reflect the views and opinions of the editors of The Ukrainian Weekly or the Ukrainian National Association, then rest assured, they do not. My views are mine alone.

So the next time you are tempted to call the editor of this fine newspaper or the UNA president to complain about something I wrote, don't. They don't answer for me, and they don't appreciate being harassed. If you have a complaint, write a letter to the editor, or to me. Send me an e-mail. If you have the courage of your convictions, sign your name. From now on my column will include my e-mail address at the bottom. Harass me. You won't be the first.

Why do I write as I do? There are many reasons. The first has to do with providing information about issues that I believe are, or should be, of concern to the Ukrainian community.

A second reason has to do with what I believe is the truth about various issues. This doesn't mean that I'm always right, but at least I have formed what I believe is an informed opinion. Those who have other opinions, and can defend them, should respond.

And this brings me to my third goal. I would like our community to be more engaged in issues. If my column can provoke a response, either positive or negative, then I've accomplished my objective.

I am grateful to the Rev. John R. Nakonachny for his letter to the editor and for the time he spent on the telephone enlightening me about certain aspects of the Church situation in Ukraine. He was provoked by my column of December 22, 1996, and he responded. Hopefully, there will be others.

Although Father Nakonachny readily admits that at one time Ukrainian Orthodox had no use for Patriarch Filaret, he is now convinced that the man has turned over a new leaf. Father Nakonachny has observed the metamorphosis firsthand, and argues that the patriarch's past transgressions should not be held against him because during the past five years he has worked diligently to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. If that is the case, then my calling the patriarch a "former Soviet shill" served no useful purpose.

Father Nakonachny makes a valid point when he writes that our community is willing to forget the past sins of Presidents Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma and many diplomats, so "how much longer will our Ukrainian leaders continue to ignore the good that has been done by the patriarch?" Personally, I am willing to forget the past as long as Ukraine benefits. If the patriarch is working towards greater unity among Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and improved relations with Ukrainian Catholics, God bless him.

Father Nakonachny is also correct when he writes that the patriarch is entitled to an opinion regarding the timing of a visit by Pope John Paul II to Ukraine. Tensions are running very high in Ukraine, he told me, and a visit in the near future would most certainly exacerbate them to a dangerous level. Perhaps. But we must also be aware of the fact that the pope is not in the best of health. Will his successor, who may very well be another Italian, be as sympathetic to Ukraine? Will Ukraine ever enjoy a visit from such a pope? This is not to say that the present pope couldn't have done more for Ukraine. Of course, he should have moved on the beatification of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. Of course, Ukrainian Catholics should have their own patriarch now that Ukraine is independent. Who knows why he hasn't done so? Some Catholic laypeople have argued that the main reason Pope John Paul II hasn't proclaimed a patriarchate is the result of opposition from certain Ukrainian Catholic prelates. Others believe that a Ukrainian Catholic patriarch would damage sensitive relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.

If Ukraine's statistics are correct - "over 30 million [people] consider themselves Orthodox" - then the Rev. Nakonachny's argument that Ukraine is indeed an "Orthodox nation" is worthy of consideration. The point, however, is debatable once one considers church attendance. Few people today would call France or Italy "Catholic countries." When Lesia and I attended the Catholic Laity Conference in Rome in 1985, we were appalled by the number of boarded-up churches in Rome and by the crucial shortage of priests in France. Even though most Americans consider themselves to be Christian, how often do people call our country "Christian?"

Those who believe that in criticizing some Orthodox prelates I was attacking the Orthodox Church should know better. As a Catholic I have criticized the behavior of certain Catholic prelates many times in the past. That does not mean that I'm against the Catholic Church. I have also reprimanded many Jewish leaders. Contrary to their opinion, that does not make me an anti-Semite. It should be no secret that I am not very fond of the former head of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. That does not mean that I'm opposed to Harvard. Reproaching leaders of institutions does not signal an attack on the institution.

I have frequently questioned the behavior of Ukrainian and American government officials. Does that make me anti-Ukrainian or anti-American?

Some Orthodox have openly wondered what right a Catholic has in criticizing Orthodox bishops. I shouldn't interfere, they have suggested, in Orthodox affairs. But the visit of a Catholic pope to Ukraine is not an Orthodox affair. If Orthodox prelates feel compelled to speak out against a proposed Catholic initiative, are they not interfering in Catholic affairs?

I ended my article of December 22 with a suggestion that all of us, "but especially Catholics and Orthodox, need to come together in common prayer ... we need to demonstrate to our Catholic and Orthodox brethren in Ukraine that we are united in our common belief and mutual appreciation and love for each other. Perhaps our two metropolitans can concelebrate a service of common cause." I still believe that we in the diaspora can set the example for the people of Ukraine. Whether we will or not will depend on the depth of our Christian understanding.

To reiterate: If you have a comment regarding this column, contact me through my e-mail address at: [email protected]

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