MPs back collection of signatures by UOC believers against anti-church laws

Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Еugeny Shevchenko and Sergei Minko promised full support to the believers of the Zaporozhye Eparchy of the UOC, who initiated the collection of signatures against the bills "On Media" (No. 2693-d) and "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine (regarding counteracting hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity)”(No. 3316), as reported on the eparchy’s website.

“I as a people's deputy of Ukraine express my sincere support and gratitude for your active civil position regarding the prevention of the entry into force of bills No. 3316 and No. 2693-d in the current edition. I assure you that while exercising my parliamentary powers, I will take into account all your wishes,” said MP Shevchenko.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporozhye and Melitopol, all the churches of the eparchy organized the collection of signatures of parishioners to an appeal to the VR Speaker Dmitry Razumkov. The appeal speaks of the inadmissibility of adopting these bills in their current form without revisions.

“The norms of these legislative acts provide for sanctions and criminal penalties for public criticism of the LGBT community. The collected signatures of the Orthodox believers of Zaporozhye were scanned and handed over to the people’s deputies, asking them to support the initiative of the faithful,” the eparchy’s press centre noted.

On behalf of the flock entrusted to him, Metropolitan Luke thanked the deputies Shevchenko and Minko and expressed the hope that "in spite of everything, the voice of reason will still be heard".

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine legalized the gambling business.