Ukrainian Churches 'Firmly Do Not Recommend' Priests to Run for Office

A press conference “Why Do Priests Run for Office?” was held on October 19, at the information agency Glavkom. The event was attended by representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (Professor Dmytro Stepovyk), Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (Fr. Heorhii Kovalenko), and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Bishop Yosyf Milian). In general, the representatives of the churches noted that they “firmly do not recommend” priests to become governmental officials.

According to the press secretary of the head of the UOC-MP, Fr. Heorhii Kovalenko, representation in the authorities will open for the church the “possibility to witness the church's faith, solve questions of charity, education.” The priest noted that it is a positive motivation for authoritative priests who decide to run for authorities. At the same time, he voiced the position of the UOC-MP, which is hope that “in future there will be no priests in any authorities.”

Bishop Yosyf Milian of the UGCC noted that one should remember that the church is separated from the state and this principle should be observed. The bishop said that, unlike the state, the church is not a democratic but a hierarchical institution.  

Professor Dmytro Stepovyk noted that it is necessary to protect the church at the state level as “we do not know who can come to power.” But, in his opinion, there are competent authorities for that, particularly, the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions.  He also said that “the power is full of sin and the church is a place of peace and not arguments and conflicts. ... We cannot flatly prohibit anything but we firmly do not recommend priests to run for office,” stressed the professor.