Heads of eparchial legal departments of UOC meet in Kiev
Lawyers spoke about the legal support of religious organizations and the latest changes in the Ukrainian legislation in the sphere of freedom of conscience and religion.
On March 21, 2019, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, a meeting of representatives of the eparchial legal departments of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, reports the Legal Department of the UOC.
The meeting was held under the leadership of the head of the Legal Department of the UOC Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, who drew attention to the need to bring the documents of religious organizations in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
During the meeting, issues related to the legal support of the activities of religious organizations and recent changes in the legislation of Ukraine in the sphere of freedom of conscience and religion were discussed.
Practical guidelines were given to lawyers of the eparchial departments on how to record violations and protect the rights of believers and UOC institutions, the relevant sample documents were provided.
Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, the Chairman of the Legal Department of the UOC, reminded those present that cases of violations of the rights of the episcopate, clergy, laity and institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (obstruction of worship, seizure of churches, provocation and pressure, threats, etc.) must be promptly reported to the Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Earlier, the head of the Legal Department of the UOC Archpriest Alexander Bakhov said that the Church intends to protect its rights by all legal means.
As the UOJ reported, the previous meeting of representatives of the eparchial legal departments of the UOC was held on February 5, 2019.
