Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

The largest organization of religious leaders in Ukraine is backing a proposal by the nation’s president, approved by Ukrainian lawmakers on August 20, to ban the Russian Orthodox Church and its affiliates. These organizations have openly supported Russia’s decade-long war on Ukraine.

In an August 17 statement, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), which represents various Christian, Jewish, and Muslim bodies in Ukraine, endorsed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legislative initiative “to make it impossible for such organizations to operate in our country,” noting that the measure enjoyed “broad political and public support.”

Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, adopted the law “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Field of Activities of Religious Organizations” on August 20. The measure prohibits the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine as well as any Ukrainian Orthodox churches that opt to remain affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate. Ukrainian Orthodox churches that divest from Moscow are free to operate. The law also provides for free usage of state and communal space by religious organizations.

The council said it had met with Zelenskyy on August 16 and discussed “protection of freedom of religion and spiritual independence of Ukraine, protection of constitutional order and public security, human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of abuse by the aggressor country.”

UCCRO said its members “categorically condemn activities of Russian Orthodox Church, which has become an accomplice to the Russian invaders’ bloody crimes against humanity, which sanctifies weapons of mass destruction and openly declares the need to destroy Ukrainian statehood, culture, identity, and more recently Ukrainians themselves.”

Russian Orthodox clergy have consistently blessed Russia’s war on Ukraine. This conflict continues attacks launched in 2014 and has been declared a genocide in two joint reports from the New Lines Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights.

Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has destroyed at least 660 religious sites representing several faith confessions. Clergy and faithful from various denominations have been expelled, detained, tortured, and sometimes killed.

In late June, Ukrainian Catholic priests Father Ivan Levitsky and Father Bohdan Geleta were released after a year-and-a-half captivity under Russian forces during which they were reportedly tortured regularly.

Russian occupation officials in Zaporizhzhia issued a written order in December 2022 banning several religious organizations including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and close ally to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has vigorously endorsed Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. In a September 2022 sermon he stated that “sacrifice in carrying out your military duty (in Ukraine) washes away all sins.”

During its March congress led by Patriarch Kirill, Russia's invasion was declared a "Holy War" aimed at destroying Ukraine while positioning Russia as protecting against globalism.

Close to 80% of Ukraine’s population identifies as Orthodox but this affiliation has become complex due to Russia's aggression. In January 2019 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I recognized the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. A few months prior he restored Metropolitan Filaret to full communion.

In response to these actions by Constantinople Patriarchate, The Russian Orthodox Church severed ties with Constantinople.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church traditionally loyal to Russia broke with Moscow Patriarchate over Patriarch Kirill's stance on invasion but Ukrainian officials remain wary particularly those still allied with Moscow Patriarchate.

An April poll by Kyiv International Institute found that 83% Ukrainians would intervene UOC-MP activities with 63% favoring outright ban.

Reiterating its April statement UCCRO said partnerships & freedom religion protected state basis church-state relations no organization secular or religious center committed military aggression can operate

In response pro-Russian criticism proposed ban UCCRO said religious rights freedoms respected amidst brutal war believers despite challenges related war express feelings beliefs dignity

Catherine Wanner professor history anthropology & religious studies Pennsylvania State University specialist religion Soviet post-Soviet told US Helsinki Commission hearing July that Ukraine's demographics reflect tolerance diversity pluralism governing principles symbols practices broadly accepted public institutions space

But diversity clashes imposition Russian world ideology justifies repression minorities privileges orthodoxy state-protected guardian traditional values public morality social political order

Archbishop Yevstratiy Zorya deputy head OCU Department External Relations professor Kyiv Theological Academy told OSV News July interview ROC not just under control government part government current leader Moscow Patriarchate more official Kremlin regime than real Christian leader former Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev reported worked Soviet Union KGB intelligence service particularly respect World Council Churches during '70s main threat freedom aggression result dozens clergymen killed occupiers hundreds houses worship destroyed Moscow justifies pogroms restrictions freedom torture murders priests pastors cynically tramples God's instructions norms universal morality

Council added convinced course protecting freedom spiritual independence not isolation openness high standards traditions rejecting manipulations involve faith use cover crimes consolidate society victory establishment long-awaited peace

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