Patriarch Sviatoslav: UGCC Not to Allow Its Priests to Participate in Election Campaign

At their last Synod, the Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) prepared an address to the voters to be published before the parliamentary election next autumn, Patriarch Sviatoslav of the UGCC stated during his visit to Ivano-Frankivsk Region on May 6.   

“The meaning of this address is very simple. First of all, we are calling not to vote for the parties who buy votes. For a purchase of a voter’s vote is corruption. Secondly, we are calling the citizens to come and participate in the election. Many of our people today do not believe any more that their vote can change anything. Therefore, we are asking not to take the election lightly for it is not only one’s right but also a great responsibility, in particular, Christian responsibility for one’s society and state. It is especially true of Greek Catholics who were always part of the advance guard of the state development,” the website of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy of the UGCC quoted the patriarch as saying.

The head of tje UGCC called on Greek Catholics to be careful and not to yield to provocations of people calling to achieve changes in the state by means of extreme radical steps.

“A forced scenario never built anything. On the other hand, peace, care and responsibility are the foundation stones on which one can build one’s state, social and personal future by one’s conscious choice,” said the patriarch.

“Our church has always been active in social processes. However, we never tell anyone to vote for anyone and we do not allow our clergy to participate in the election campaign. We want to help to build the institute of civil society. We want to be active not in the political but in the public life. The church has no wish to replace these public institutions but wants really to help build them in a fitting way,” said the Primate.  

Patriarch Sviatoslav also expressed hope that Ukrainians understand that they are the only source of power and that the prosperity of the state depends on them only.

“Therefore, I would like our Ukraine to be known in the world not for its political problems or selective justice but as an open, civilized country where people are able to build their future,” concluded the head of the UGCC.