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Cardinal Husar Believes in Future Equality, Unification of Churches in Ukraine

24.05.2005, [00:24] // UGCC //

Kyiv – In an interview with a Russian newspaper, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), spoke of the prospects for the church’s development and the unification of churches into a single national church of Ukraine. The cardinal expects a clear following of the constitutional law on the equality of all churches from Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko. This was reported on 20 May 2005 by the press service of the head of the UGCC.

When asked about UGCC progress under Yushchenko’s presidency, the cardinal responded that the church’s development is not directly dependent on any president. The church has its own rhythm of life, its internal dynamics. However, external factors certainly do have an influence, he said.

“We hope,” Cardinal Husar said, “that the constitutional law on the equal rights of all churches shall be strictly observed from the side of the president, that no church shall enjoy any privileges or status that would bring it close to the level of a state church. That is very important for us.”

The cardinal is convinced that church and state are partners: the state should not interfere with the internal life of the church, just as the church should not interfere in the political processes of the state. The state should help the church, and the church the state, he said.

During the interview, the cardinal also commented on recent calls from the public to the representatives of the government demanding active steps towards the unification of the churches of Ukraine. “We do not hope and do not want the state to unite the churches. That is not the state’s task,” the cardinal said. “We only want the state to create conditions under which coming closer, understanding, and mutual tolerance would be possible. This means that the state should try to remove any external obstacles to the coexistence of the churches.”

The cardinal concluded that the unification of the churches will surely come, since that is the will of God. Jesus Christ created one church, the cardinal said.

Source:

• http://www.ugcc.org.ua/ukr/press-releases/article;1740/