print this pageUOC-KP Orthodox Head Expresses Regret to Ukraine’s Muslims over “Cartoons”
10.02.2006, [19:34] // UOC-KP //
Kyiv – In connection with the “cartoon scandal” which brought about protests in Muslim countries, Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), expressed his deep concern. kievpatr.org.ua posted the news on 8 February 2006.
“These events are an alarming signal for the whole world, especially for Europe,” said Patriarch Filaret. “The appearance of such cartoons is a natural result, showing that someone in Europe not only has forgotten his/her Christian roots but also is trying to deny them. And those who have no respect for their own tradition and religion cannot understand and respect the feelings of those who follow other spiritual traditions. By denying their own Christian faith, such people cannot understand why others so passionately defend the traditions of their religion.”
The head of the UOC-KP expressed his regret to the Muslims of Ukraine at the offence to their religious feelings. “Offending religious feelings is inadmissible. We condemn the publication of these offensive cartoons and we believe they cannot be republished, and Ukraine is no exception. I hope that possible protests against them will be peaceful,” said Patriarch Filaret.
He believes: “The war on terror cannot serve as a justification of offences of the faithful, and you cannot defend your faith by attacking and killing.”
“One of the key conditions for a democratic society to exist is respect for the rights of others. Therefore some freedoms, like the freedom of speech, should be correlated with the respect for the right to freedom of conscience and religion. Conscious defiance and offence of the feelings of the faithful, even if freedom of speech and self-expression is used as a cover, are inadmissible!” said Patriarch Filaret.
Patriarch Filaret recalled that Ukrainian society has known several antireligious campaigns. In the 1960s lampoons and cartoons about God, the church, and believers were published in the press. “Europeans should not repeat the same mistakes. The world received a hard lesson; and each of us should make proper conclusions,” believes the head of the UOC-KP.
Source:
• http://www.kievpatr.org.ua/news.php?page=show_nov&id=513
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