Stay out of political campaigns, Ukrainian Catholic leader reminds priests

September 02, 2015

As Ukraine prepares for local elections on October 25, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, reminded priests that Church and state have a “clear division of spheres of competence.”

Priests are forbidden to speak on behalf of a “candidate, party, or political alliance,” post signs in church yards, or distribute campaign materials on church property, according to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s information department.

They are permitted, however, to “encourage people to perform their social obligation in obedience to their conscience” and to utter prayers for a just election if the prayers have been approved by ecclesiastical authority.

 

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Further information:

• His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminds priests about the Instruction for behaviour during the political campaign (UGCC)
• Ukrainian Church leaders direct priests to stay out of political campaigns (CWN, 4/11/14)