Bishop Borys (Gudziak): Church Can Contribute to Healthy Political Development

The Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainian Greek Catholics of France, Switzerland and the Benelux countries, Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Bishop Borys (Gudziak) is convinced that the Church should talk about principles and help people to make a conscious choice.  

"She [editor: the Church] should not tell people: 'Vote for this candidate or support this party.' We had an example, even though it was a short-term one, before and during the Orange Revolution. From February to November, Greek-Catholic Churches in Galicia prayed for the free election and conscious choice of people. In my opinion, the mysterious wave of mutual love and responsibility for the future in 2004 in Ukraine was to a great extent conditioned by the position of the Church. There is no magic stick or simple formula to eliminate the deep vice in Ukraine. The call of the Church to transformation, repentance and spiritual strengthening of each person is the best contribution to healthy political development in Ukraine," said the bishop in an interview to Vysokyi Zamok.                               

In answer to the correspondent’s question of what to say to a person who asks whether they can take the "buckwheat," the bishop responded: "Take it if you feel you can remain free after that. If it will bind you, do not take it."