AUCCRO assures WCC there is "no religious persecution" in Ukraine

A meeting of the AUCCRO and the WCC. Photo: vrciro.ua

On May 11, 2023, during a meeting of members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) with a delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kyiv, Bishop Viacheslav Horpinchuk, head of the AUCCRO, assured the WCC that there is no religious persecution in Ukraine, reports the AUCCRO press service.

"In Ukraine, freedom of religion is respected and there is no persecution on religious grounds during the war. However, the situation of believers in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia as a result of armed aggression remains extremely dangerous. Terrorism of civilians, especially religious leaders, is a common tactic of intimidation and subjugation of the Russian occupying power. We hope that the voice of the WCC will also be raised in the world in defence of believers who suffer daily because of the presence of Russian occupiers in the Ukrainian land," stressed Viacheslav Horpinchuk.

The AUCCRO members "thanked the WCC for its support of Ukraine, including in countering Russian propaganda that distorts facts and justifies Russia's brutal war against Ukrainian civilians".

The WCC delegation is visiting Ukraine from May 10 to 13. In addition to meeting with AUCCRO members, the foreign religious leaders held separate meetings with representatives of the UOC and the OCU.

As earlier reported, the UOC Chancellor told the World Council of Churches about discrimination against the Church.

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