UOC-KP: Statement of OCU is a mean effort to help Poroshenko escape penalty

Petro Poroshenko and the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: UNIAN

Recent declarations by the OCU on the state of justice in Ukraine are not aimed at improving legal proceedings or making them fair, but are only intended to help Petro Poroshenko avoid responsibility. This is said in the official statement of the UOC-KP “on distrust among the leadership of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, published on the organization’s Facebook page on June 16, 2020.

The UOC-KP members noted that “they were surprised to read” the text of the statement of June 12, in which the OCU “expressed concern about the crisis of confidence in domestic justice and defended former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, whom law enforcement authorities suspect of illegal actions.”

“In the statement, the OCU is outraged by the lack of justice in our country despite the fact that this Church is doing everything to ensure that the courts do not act according to law and justice, but as it may be beneficial for the leadership of this faith, subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople,” the UOC-KP emphasized. “The OCU systematically condones the violation of the rights of believers of the UOC-KP, who strive to belong to the Church they chose, rather than the one imposed by Petro Poroshenko, the Ministry of Culture, and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.”

According to the schismatics, “the authors of the OCU’s statement are trying to artificially link the fact that law enforcement agencies have questions for Petro Poroshenko regarding his participation in the Tomos procedure,” although the cases, incriminated to the ex-president, ostensibly “have nothing to do with religion”. At the same time, they expressed regret that the law enforcement authorities still have not figured out "the role of Petro Poroshenko in the gross interference of the then regime in the internal religious life <...> of the most powerful and independent of foreign religious centers, the UOC-KP."

“In our opinion, such statements by the OCU do not suggest a genuine concern about the state of justice in Ukraine, they are crafty and untruthful; nor do they aim to improve the judicial process by making it fair, but only to help Petro Poroshenko get away with his offences. In fact, the OCU came forward with political agitation in favor of the former head of state, once again confirming its dependence on him,” the UOC-KP emphasized.

In conclusion, the schismatics noted that, "taking part in the dubious PR projects of the former president Poroshenko", the leadership of the OCU "forgets that it incurs the wrath of God".

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, when committing evil yourselves, remember the truth quoted by you: ‘For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’,” the liquidated religious organization sums up in its statement.

As reported by the UOJ, on June 12, the OCU announced its distrust of the judicial system in Ukraine and inappropriateness of “political persecution” of former president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

Read also

OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies

According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.

AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC

An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.

UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral

Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.

UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine

Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.

Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty

The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.

Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.