dw.com
Ukraine Sues Kyiv Metropolis of Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Ties to Russian Orthodox Church
Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DES) filed a lawsuit against the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) for refusing to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), seeking to end its legal entity status.
- What are the potential consequences of this lawsuit for the UOC?
- A successful lawsuit would revoke the Kyiv Metropolis's legal status, resulting in the reversion of approximately 3,000 religious properties leased from the state to state ownership. It would also nullify all existing lease agreements held by the UOC, impacting both the church's operations and those who lease property to it.
- Why is the lawsuit specifically targeting the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC?
- The Kyiv Metropolis is the UOC's governing body and holds legal entity status, unlike most Ukrainian churches. This allows it to own property and enter contracts, making it the focal point for legal action to sever ties with the ROC. Stripping its legal status is the means to effectively curtail its operations.
- What are the implications for the UOC's followers if the lawsuit succeeds?
- While the lawsuit aims to eliminate the UOC's legal entity status, it will not ban religious practice. Followers can continue attending services; however, the UOC will lose state benefits such as subsidized utilities and tax breaks. The UOC will continue functioning as a collection of unregistered communities.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a relatively balanced view of the lawsuit against the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), presenting arguments from both the government and the UOC. However, the framing slightly favors the government's perspective by prominently featuring the government's rationale and legal arguments before presenting the UOC's counterarguments. The headline, if there was one, would significantly influence this assessment.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, using terms like "lawsuit," "legal action," and "allegations." While terms like "affiliated" and " запрещена" (banned) are used to describe the UOC's connection to the Russian Orthodox Church, these are largely factual descriptions rather than loaded language. However, some quotes from experts could be considered slightly biased, depending on their affiliation.
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including perspectives from other religious organizations or legal experts not directly involved in the case. While it mentions several experts, a broader range of opinions could provide a more complete picture. Additionally, the long-term consequences of the lawsuit for religious freedom in Ukraine beyond the UOC could be further explored. The article's omission of these perspectives might slightly limit a reader's ability to draw fully informed conclusions. However, given the complexity of the issue, this omission is understandable due to space constraints.
Sustainable Development Goals
The legal action against the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) aims to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), aligning with efforts to uphold national security and protect Ukraine's sovereignty. The lawsuit directly addresses issues of religious affiliation and potential foreign influence, impacting the legal and political landscape of Ukraine. The potential return of church property to state ownership also addresses issues of equitable resource allocation.