Council of Churches urges President to respond to freedom of conscience law

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Photo: tsn.ua

The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations convinces the Head of State and parliamentarians to finalize a bill on freedom of conscience and express their opinions so that a fanatical fight against discrimination does not lead to harassment of constitutional rights of citizens, the Council’s website reports.

Earlier, a parliamentary committee rejected the amendments of the Council of Churches aimed at protecting freedom of conscience.

Representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations insist that bill No. 0931 should be supplemented with the following: “An action or inaction of a person and/or group of people in the exercise of their rights to freedom of thought and speech, to free expression of their views and beliefs, to freedom of worldview and religion is not discrimination.”

The Council of Churches emphasizes that in religious organizations and legal entities created by them (monasteries, educational institutions, etc.) it is generally accepted to determine specific moral and ethical criteria for clergy and workers of the Church. Bill No. 0931 may interfere with this practice.

As reported by the UOJ, on November 19, the Council of Churches sent an appeal to the President substantiating the position of the religious community. The response to the appeal has not yet arrived.

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