Church leaders sign memorandum on peaceful resolution of disputes

by Khistina Lew
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - In the presence of President Leonid Kuchma, leaders of 15 Churches and religious associations in Ukraine signed a three-point memorandum on peacefully resolving interconfessional disputes. The ceremony took place at the Mariinskyi Palace on July 21.

The "Memorandum of Christian Confessions in Ukraine on the Unacceptability of Using Force in Interconfessional Relations" outlines the Church leaders' commitment to: not permit the use of force in resolving interconfessional disputes, specifically over church property; resolve problems only through negotiations and in accordance with Ukrainian law; and maintain a separation between Church and state.

The memorandum was signed by the rival leaders of Ukraine's two largest Orthodox Churches, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate, the patriarchs of Ukraine's two Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches, and leaders of Seventh Day Adventist, Evangelical Baptist and Evangelical Lutheran denominations and associations.

President Kuchma, who presided over the signing ceremony held in the ornate hall where he signs treaties with foreign leaders, noted that Churches in Ukraine are powerful, "uniting tens of millions of citizens." In signing the memorandum, Churches "will not only halt interconfessional strife, but will also lead society on a road to tolerance," he noted.

The president said the Churches' action will receive the "support of all forces in Ukrainian society" and confirms the international community's position that "Ukraine is an important element of European and world security and stability."

He asserted that the president and the government will treat each Church equally and will not meddle in internal Church affairs. "You will resolve your problems independently," he said.

Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Volodymyr of the Moscow Patriarchate, Ukraine's largest Orthodox Church, called the memorandum a "sign of good will," while Patriarch Filaret of the smaller Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate called it a "first step to peace." He pointed out, however, that "the memorandum does not solve our problems. Only the creation of a united Ukrainian Orthodox Church will guarantee peace between the Orthodox faithful. We have no problems with other confessions."

Bishop Lubomyr Husar of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church emphasized that the signing of the memorandum should be considered historic, and asked the Ukrainian president and people for their forgiveness in "holding up the process of building our native home because of our interconfessional misunderstandings and impatience."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 27, 1997, No. 30, Vol. LXV

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