Michael J Miller, Catholic World Report, 27 January, writes:
A Russian bid to draw Ukraine away from the European Union and more exclusively into its own economic and political orbit has had its equal and opposite reaction in the EuroMaidan movement: demonstrations against oppressive government and in favor of European values that started in late November of 2013 on a central square [maidÁn] in the capital, Kyiv [Kiev], and have spread to more than half of the provinces of that former Soviet-bloc nation. Remarkably, in a land where members of parliament have been caught on video throwing punches at each other during budget disputes, these popular demonstrations remained peaceful for two full months, until the Berkut (riot police) resorted to violent tactics, beat protestors mercilessly, and killed at least three.
Hanging in the balance is not only the economic fate of independent Ukraine but also its future commitment to fundamental human rights and democratic principles. Without commenting on political issues, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) has constantly and eloquently defended the freedoms of Ukrainian citizens to assemble, to speak their mind, and to choose and practice a religion. Together with other members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, it has provided pastoral ministry to the demonstrators camped on the city squares, preached the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and offered to mediate between the opposition parties and the government.
In early January 2014 Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture sent a letter to the head of the UGCC, pointing to the presence of Ukrainian Catholic priests on the Maidan as possible grounds for revoking the registration of their Church.
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