Fylypovych on anti-church law: Reminds me of 1937
The religious expert notes that the UOC is currently the largest religious organization in Ukraine.
Doctor of Philosophy, Professor at the Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Liudmyla Fylypovych, believes that the adoption of bill No. 8371 in its latest version will put an end to the 30-year history of gaining religious freedom in Ukraine. Filipovich made these comments to Radio Svoboda.
"The first reading – that version was very neutral and liberal. Now the bill is very focused on banning the UOC (MP). We could not remove from this second bill the provisions that very much remind us of 1937. You know, the prohibitive strategy. Nationalize, take away, close down...," the expert said.
Liudmyla Fylypovych expressed her high hopes that "the remnants of the Soviet era and Soviet mentality, the prohibitive demands regarding religious organizations, which will put an end to the 30-year history of gaining religious freedom in Ukraine, will not become a reality."
The religious scholar added that even if the law is passed, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not disappear, as it is the largest religious organization in the country.
"The prohibition of the activities of one organization or another – especially in the form proposed by this law – will not stop them. Either people will go underground, continue services, and the influence of the leaders who head that church today will persist... We must take into account that this is currently the largest religious structure in Ukraine. And the bill does not provide for how the people who identify with this religion will act," Fylypovych asserts.
As the UOJ previously reported, Liudmyla Fylypovych stated that there are no clear mechanisms for implementing the law banning the UOC, and it will harm Ukraine's image significantly.
