Ukrainian community leaders protest vandalism of three Montreal churches

OTTAWA - Ukrainian Canadian community and religious leaders across Canada on December 29, 1995, denounced the defacing of three Montreal churches over the holiday season. On December 23 vandals spray-painted the doors and facades of St. Sophie Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Brendan's Roman Catholic Church with slogans referring to the FLQ (Front de la Liberation du Quebec) and 101 (Bill 101 referring to Quebec's language law, which limits the use of English on signs; church signs are not subject to the law).

"Respect and protection of basic human rights, such as the right to worship freely, is the foundation of our civil society. Defacing our churches and institutions strikes at the heart of that right. It is unacceptable," said Oleh Romaniw, Winnipeg-based national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC).

"I hope the current and future political leadership of the Province of Quebec understands that this type of action must be publicly condemned and stopped," he continued.

Leaders of Canada's two main Ukrainian religious groups called for condemnation of such action. Metropolitan Wasyly Fedak, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, said, "This action, so out of step with the good will of the season, impels us all to pray and work harder than ever for the restoration of the values that make for a healthy and peaceful society."

Metropolitan Michael Bzdel of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, headquartered in Winnipeg, stated, "I am greatly disappointed to see this happen, especially because in Quebec there is a long tradition of respect for minority rights."

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said it will voice its concerns in a letter to Quebec and federal leaders. In it, the UCC will underscore the importance of protecting minority rights within Quebec and Canada.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 7, 1996, No. 1, Vol. LXIV

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