The Federalist: SHOCK - Ukraine threatens to outlaw praying to God

Friday, January 17, 2014

SHOCK - Ukraine threatens to outlaw praying to God

"Nobody can forbid people to pray. Only

Satan does not want people to pray."

The Ukrainian government has threatened to outlaw the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for holding prayer services for opposition protesters occupying Kiev's central square.

The culture ministry on Monday sent a letter to the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, accusing its priests of "breaking the law" by holding religious services outside a place of worship.

The Church's priests, along with those of the Orthodox Church loyal to the Kiev Patriarchate, hold open-air religious services several times a day on Kiev's Independence Square, known locally as the Maidan reports Agence France-Presse.

"The breach of this law could lead to legal proceedings to put an end to the activities" of the Church, said a scanned version of the letter published by the opposition news website Ukrainska Pravda.

The Ukraine is split by language and culture.
See our recent article:
'Hang the Commie' - A Revolution in the Ukraine

The square has been occupied since late November by protesters who are challenging President Viktor Yanukovych's U-turn on a landmark pact with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia.

Two tents erected on the square are used as places of worship, where protesters pray, go for confession and even have their children christened.

"For the first time since the independence of Ukraine, we have been put on our guard. We have de facto been warned that they could deprive our Church of its legal status," Shevchuk told reporters on Monday.

"We thought that the prosecution of priests was a thing of the past."

The government warning has sparked anger among believers.

"It is illegal, it is immoral. Nobody can forbid people to pray. Only Satan does not want people to pray," said Pavlo, 52, as he came out of one of the tents on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, also known as the Uniate Church, follows Orthodox traditions but is loyal to the Vatican. It was banned in the Soviet era but has become the third largest confession in Ukraine since the country's independence in 1991.

The Church now has around 5.5 million followers in Ukraine, around 12 percent of its population of 46 million, most of them living in the western regions. There are also around 1.5 believers in Ukrainian diasporas in Europe, the United States and Australia.

Buckwheat attack in Ukraine parliament

Opposition deputies throw buckwheat at deputy Viktor Pylypyshyn who they accuse of pandering for votes by giving pensioners "food sets" of buckwheat and cooking oil before the elections to secure their votes.

The parliament's speaker, Volodymyr Rybak, was forced to open the parliamentary session from a regular deputy's seat as opposition lawmakers continued to occupy the podium.

Crowds carry a flag of imprisoned Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

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Commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. After recovering from his wounds, he was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1781 he fought under Lafayette in Virginia. Appointed by President George Washington to be the U.S. minister to Great Britain served as Envoy Extraordinary to Spain. The Federalist Party made him a candidate in the 1796 presidential election as the intended running-mate of John Adams. Served as Congressman and Governor of South Carolina. Served as a major general in the Army during the War of 1812.

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David Cobb, Federalist

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Josiah Parker, Federalist

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