Weakening of canonical Church is strategy of President’s team, – expert

To deprive the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of its congregation is the ultimate goal of President Petro Porosheko’s team, said Mikhail Pavliv, director of the Humanitarian Strategies Fund.

Such a conclusion is made by the political analyst, commenting to the UOJ the annual message of the President to the Parliament made on 6 September.

"I watched the traditional for me rhetoric. It is obvious that this strategy is no coincidence for the President and his team towards the Church, thinks Pavliv. – If not the creation of the Local Church, then significant weakening of the influence of the canonical Orthodox Church on the flock– that is their goal. Not surprisingly, that sounded in the Message of the President to the Verkhovna Rada. Especially given how this strategy was severely impacted by the Cross Procession held in June."

Previously, political analyst Andrei Zolotarev suggested that the President's intervention in the affairs of the Church is an attempt to divert public attention from the failures in other areas.