Photo via umoloda.kiev.ua

Churches will take part in presidential elections to survive

Extreme manifestations of political polarization of religious organizations were seen during the elections of 2004. Sympathies, which then were manifested in their strongest, especially disgraceful forms, will be displayed also in these elections, reports RISU.

Ph.D. candidate in political science, assistant professor at the Ivan Franko Lviv National University, and religious expert Andrij Yurash expressed this opinion on August 25, 2009, in a commentary on ZIK news agency.

He believes that at the elections Yanukovych, Symonenko, and other representatives of pro-Russian leanings will expect the support of the UOC-MP. Support for Yanukovych, for example, was definitely demonstrated during the visit of Patriarch Kirill.

On the other hand, as Andrij Yurash noted, politicians of the so-called democratic camp will definitely look for support in church organizations which are oriented for the preservation of the sovereign status of Ukraine. This includes the UOC-KP, UGCC, and Protestant churches.

In the opinion of the religions expert, church organizations, from their side, will want to work together with political powers to guarantee the existence of their churches. For example, the UOC-KP, which has existed in Ukraine for practically 20 years, understands that if a political government comes to power that will support the UOC-MP, then this can completely put into question the existence of the Kyivan Patriarchate. Thus, naturally, the Kyivan Patriarchate will support the politicians who will guarantee its preservation and development.

“If they completely withdrew from the political process, they would untie their hands from the political groupings which absolutely theoretically, possibly, in some time will place questions about the right of a church organization to exist,” remarked Yurash.

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TAGS: Ukraine presidential elections religious organizations churches Andrij Yurash

[08/30/2009]

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