“Religious pluralism is key to Ukraine's religious landscape," - Viktor Yelensky to German Delegation

10 April, 11:50

The Chairman of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), Viktor Yelensky, met on April 9 with a delegation from the Episcopal German Conference of the Roman Catholic Church, led by Bishop Augsburg Dr. Bertram Meyer, President of the Commission for International Church Affairs.

Also present at the meeting were Ulrich Penner, Director of the Department of International Church Affairs and Migration, Dr. Jörg Lüer, Chairman of the Commission on Justice and Peace. The delegation was accompanied by the head of the Commission on Interconfessional and Interreligious Relations of the UGCC, Father Ihor Shaban, as reported by DESS.

Viktor Yelensky told the German guests about the unique model of state-church relations in Ukraine, based on religious pluralism and competition among denominations. He emphasized that no religion has a dominant status in Ukraine, and all religious organizations have equal rights under the law.

"No confession in Ukraine has any special privileges. The Ukrainian model of state-church relations is based on the principle of equality of all religious organizations," Viktor Yelensky noted. "Ukrainian legislation on freedom of religion knows neither main nor prohibited Churches. All religious communities have equal rights under the law, regardless of their size." He added that despite military actions, the state guarantees freedom of worship for all citizens of Ukraine: "The only threat to freedom of conscience is Russian aggression."

The main topic of discussion was the religious situation in Ukraine, particularly the impact of Russian aggression on religious freedoms and the rights of believers in the occupied territories. Viktor Yelensky spoke about the oppression of religious minorities and communities, the destruction of religious buildings – as of today, Russian troops have destroyed, damaged, or completely demolished 640 religious structures.

Bishop Bertram Meyer expressed concern about the situation with religious freedoms in the occupied territories. He noted that the delegation of German bishops came to Ukraine to see the situation with their own eyes and express their support for the Ukrainian people.

"We pray for peace in Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people to overcome this terrible war," said Bishop Meyer.

Viktor Yelensky thanked the delegation of the Episcopal German Conference of the Roman Catholic Church for their visit to Ukraine and for their support. He expressed hope that this visit would help German society better understand the situation with religious freedoms in Ukraine and strengthen support for Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and independence.