There’s an international debate.
Pope Francis has expressed concern over a new Ukrainian law that prohibits groups historically connected to the Russian Orthodox Church, viewing it as a potential threat to religious freedom. In his comments on Sunday, the Pope warned that such measures might undermine the freedom of worship, emphasizing that true prayer is inclusive and should not be equated with wrongdoing. He called for the preservation of all Christian churches, asserting that they should not be dismantled or suppressed.
The Ukrainian law, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, aims to address national security by targeting entities with Russian affiliations. This legislation primarily impacts the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which, despite its historical ties to the Moscow patriarchate, had severed those connections in May 2022 in response to the war. The law gives the UOC nine months to fully cut ties with Russia or face closure, although Ukrainian officials argue that links still exist.
The new law does not affect the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which was recognized as independent from Russian influence by most global Orthodox leaders in 2019. Zelensky framed the legislation as a significant step toward liberating Ukrainian Orthodoxy from Russian control, describing it as a move away from Russian influence.
Critics, including Wesley J. Smith from the Discovery Institute, argue that the law infringes on religious freedoms by determining which church can operate freely and which must be suppressed. Smith contends that the Ukrainian government should not decide the legitimacy of religious groups, suggesting that such decisions are best left to the religious community itself.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between national security concerns and religious freedoms in Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.