U.S.A. RESPECTS RELIGIOUS CHOICE OF UKRAINIANS—SECRETARY MIKE POMPEO
American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that Washington "supports the right of Ukrainians to worship as they wish," and he called the Ukrainian church and government to promote the values of "toleration, restraint, and understanding."
This was stated in his declaration that was published on the website of the State Department on 19 October.
"The United States supports freedom of religions and the rights of religious groups, particularly Ukrainian Orthodoxy, freely to profess their own faith without outside interference," Pompeo emphasized.
It was noted that the U.S.A. respects the religious choice of Ukrainians and hopes that others will accept it.
"Respect, restraint, and mutual understanding are the key to peaceful coexistence and the flourishing of people of various confessions. The U.S.A. calls the church and government to actively promote these values on the path to the creation of an independent Ukrainian church," the statement says, Ukrainskaia Pravda reports. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 October 2018)
POMPEO CALLS FOR GRANTING UKRAINIAN CHURCH AUTOCEPHALY
American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for progress in granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian church "in the spirit of religious liberty."
"The United States again declares that it supports religious liberty and the freedom of members of religious communities, including the Ukrainian Orthodox community, to achieve the management of their religion in accordance with their beliefs and without external interference," Pompeo says in a written statement that was distributed by the State Department.
"We support the possibility for Ukrainians to worship as they wish, and we hope that everyone will respect this. Tolerance, restraint, and understanding are the key so that people with diverse religious affiliations may live together and flourish in peace. We call representatives of the church and government to actively promote these values in connection with the movement to the creation of an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the secretary of state added.
Earlier, on Friday, the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow patriarchate, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Ilarion, declared that the U.S.A. is standing behind the actions of the patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine. He explained that, judging by the actions of American politicians, Washington is interested in weakening both Russia itself and also the Russian church. . . . (tr. by PDS, posted 21 October 2018)
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