German Professor: Legitimacy of Churches is not within the state's purview
According to the German theologian, the Soviet model of religious policy actually continues to operate in Ukraine.
Dr. Thomas Bremer, a renowned Catholic theologian and distinguished professor at WWU Münster in Germany, has stated that Ukrainian authorities have overstepped their bounds by deciding which denomination is the legitimate Orthodox Church in Ukraine. He made this statement in an interview published on the dialogtut.org website.
According to Dr. Bremer, the unwarranted interference of authorities in religious affairs is evidenced by the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience conducting a "religious expertise" of the Statute on the Governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as a government bill aimed at banning the UOC.
"Due to the new government policy, and specifically due to the 'Conclusion of the Religious Expertise by DESS' (along with Law No. 8371), the state is taking a position on which of the two churches is legitimate. However, this is not its task and not its competence," Dr. Bremer stated.
He added that the termination of the agreement for the use of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by the UOC is a consequence of this policy.
Professor Bremer noted that Ukraine is essentially still following the Soviet model of religious policy.
"The current law on religious organizations in Ukraine is a modified Soviet law. It was adopted shortly before Ukraine declared independence and was influenced by the idea of restructuring, so it was relatively liberal. However, it contains provisions typical of the Soviet period, such as the requirement for the registration of religious communities or the establishment of an authority responsible for the sphere of religion (similar to the Soviet 'Commissioner for Religious Affairs')," the theologian pointed out.
He is convinced that in a democratic society, religious freedom is a fundamental value and right that should not be violated even in extreme situations, such as during times of war.
"Of course, the state should counteract anyone who threatens its existence, both in times of war and in peacetime. However, it should not violate its own principles in the process. Protecting religious freedom (or any other right) does not occur through its restriction," Thomas Bremer emphasized.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Dr. Bremer believes that Ukrainian authorities have no grounds to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
