DISINFO: The West endorses the destruction of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine
SUMMARY
The canonical Orthodox Church is being physically destroyed in Ukraine. The West styles itself a champion of religious freedom or, rather, permissiveness. Almost everything is allowed in Europe and the United States. One can saw off Christian crosses there, burn the Koran, and curse God. But it is not possible to defend one's faith. As old ideologies collapse and the struggle for a new world order is underway, traditional religions are a source of strength and sovereignty for countries and peoples, which means the West wants to eliminate them.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that Ukraine is an enemy of the Orthodox Church.
Kyiv does not limit freedom of belief and religion, which is enshrined in Ukraine's constitution. Article 35 says: “Everyone has the right to freedom of personal philosophy and religion. This right includes the freedom to profess or not to profess any religion, to perform alone or collectively and without constraint religious rites and ceremonial rituals, and to conduct religious activity.”
The Ukrainian government does not plan to ban Orthodoxy. But it does limit the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), only on the basis of its connection with Russia as an occupying force in Ukraine, not due to religious reasons. Ukraine’s security service has exposed a lot of UOC-MP priests as Russian spies or collaborators. The parishes of the UOC-MP may switch to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine which received the tomos of autocephaly in January 2019 and is officially recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and other Orthodox churches.
A poll, conducted in December 2022, showed that 78 per cent of Ukrainians thought the authorities should interfere into the activities of the UOC-MP in one way or another, and 54 per cent supported imposing a complete ban on it.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that UN publishes a report on Kyiv’s discrimination against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, that Kyiv persecutes Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and that Ukraine court orders demolition of Orthodox church.