VIEW FROM THE TREMBITA LOUNGE

by Taras Szmagala Jr.

A letter to the Russian patriarch

This week I'd like to share an open letter to His Holiness Alexei II, patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

* * *

Your Holiness:

I know it may seem strange to you to receive this letter - I suspect not many Ukrainian Catholics from Cleveland find their way to drop you a line. But you've been having some rough times as of late, and even we "Uniates" have been feeling a bit sorry for you.

We know it's hard to keep telling someone they're not wanted, especially when they can't take a hint. And popes sure can't take hints, can they? They keep angling for that Moscow invite, regardless of how many negative vibes you throw their way. And I can only imagine that this whole "religious freedom" thing has been pretty difficult for you to accept. After all, during Soviet times, you had a monopoly on religion. If someone wanted to believe in God, your Church was the only game in town. But now, there are a variety of faiths from which to choose - different Orthodox Churches, Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, and lots of non-Christian alternatives, too. I suspect that competition can take a lot out of a patriarch.

But when Cardinal Lubomyr Husar decided to move the headquarters of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church to Kyiv, well, even we in the U.S. were surprised by the shrillness of your response. You immediately condemned the move as evidence of Catholic proselytism on Orthodox lands. And in a line that only a lawyer could love, the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under your control had this to say: "We view the transfer of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church residence to Kyiv as a blatant challenge to the confessional self-awareness of Orthodox Ukrainians, which provokes social, political and religious instability." Now, your Holiness, I will be the first to admit that Ukraine has its share of social, political and religious instability, but do you really think that all this instability has been caused by the construction of a church on the left bank of the Dnipro?

I admit I am coming at this issue from a decidedly American and Catholic perspective. I cannot claim to understand the religious issues facing Christian believers in Ukraine and Russia, and I certainly do not have your theological background. But all this concern over Catholic "proselytism" in Ukraine seems just a bit overblown to me. Call me naive, but can we realistically expect a flood of converts from Ukrainian Orthodoxy to Ukrainian Catholicism simply because Cardinal Husar now calls Kyiv home? Truthfully, Your Holiness, I wouldn't worry too much about losing believers on account of the cardinal's transfer.

Please don't misunderstand me - I am not saying that your Church doesn't have serious issues with which it must contend. It does, as does my Church, and the other Orthodox Churches on Ukrainian soil. The most pressing issue, perhaps, is the gradual integration of Ukraine into European culture. While I think this integration is inherently good (although I suspect you disagree with me on this point), that process is not without considerable spiritual risk. Specifically, Christianity in Europe is on the decline. Church attendance is down and secularism is on the rise. As European clerics have themselves often admitted, nowadays being a Christian in Europe is passé.

So how can Ukraine preserve and nurture its Christian heritage, even as it seeks to improve its standard of living and draw closer to Europe? I wish I had a simple answer. After all, materialism and secularism are formidable foes, and conspicuous consumption seems to be the order of the day in Kyiv. Perhaps it is to be expected; after so many years of Soviet economic stagnation, it's easy for Ukrainians to think that "stuff" will make them happy.

I am sure Your Holiness and other religious leaders know better. You know that worldly goods don't provide true, long-term satisfaction. And you are keenly aware that, at this turbulent time in Ukraine's history, Ukrainians need a reliable moral compass to help them find their way. Isn't it the role of our Churches, regardless of allegiance to pope or patriarch, to provide that compass? I'd like to think that, after reflection and prayer, Your Holiness would realize that spending time and effort battling a fellow Christian Church diverts crucial resources from the true matter at hand: filling the spiritual void felt by so many Ukrainians during this period of change and transition.

If you ask Cardinal Husar, I suspect he'd tell you that he's not seeking to grab a larger share of your pie. Rather, he's trying to figure out a way to grow the size of the pie as a whole. And I am sure the Orthodox Churches, including your own, are trying to accomplish the same thing. Given this, perhaps our Churches would be better off by cooperating, rather than competing, with one another. How better to demonstrate to the Ukrainian people the love of Christ than by working together, hand in hand, to serve the poor, educate the youth, and set a consistent moral and ethical standard that crosses sectarian boundaries?

Again, Your Holiness, maybe I am being naive. But what do you have to lose? For if you continue to see us Catholics as your enemy, one day you will discover that your believers have not been stolen by a Catholic cardinal, but by a more powerful foe named indifference.

Sincerely,

Taras Szmagala, Jr.
Cleveland, Ohio

Taras Szmagala Jr. may be reached at [email protected].

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 2, 2005, No. 40, Vol. LXXIII

| Home Page |