ANALYSIS: Four Christian parties unite into Christian Democratic Union (05/18/03)

ANALYSIS

Four Christian parties unite into Christian Democratic Union

Religious Information Service of Ukraine

KYIV - The Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party, the Christian Democratic Party of Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Union of Christians and the Christian People's Union united into the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). This happened at the sixth extraordinary assembly of the Christian People's Union held in Ukraine's capital on April 12.

According to Volodymyr Stretovych, head of the Christian People's Union, Christian democracy is the most suitable ideology for Ukraine, taking into account the traditional, historical and Christian development of social relations. Christian democracy, Mr. Stretovych said, revived Europe after the destruction of World War II, therefore, this experience is particularly relevant for Ukraine, which is currently in a state of crisis.

Eduard Ilyin, a leader of the newly united party, said that the party's major goals were "devotion to God and serving the people and the state."

Guests from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany shared their experience of the Christian democratic movement in Europe. Among other speakers at the assembly were Viktor Yushchenko, chairman of Our Ukraine; Hennadii Udovenko, Ivan Pliusch, Yurii Pavlenko, Mykhailo Pavlovskyi, Ivan Zaiets and representatives of other parties.

The CDU leaders also spoke about the party's relations with Churches and emphasized that no Church will be given any special treatment. They also insisted on the constitutional provision for the separation of Church and state.

According to Mr. Stretovych, state authorities are losing their influence in society because they are trying to get control over the Church through various administrative bodies. That is also the reason, he continued, that he spoke against the proposed new religious legislative bill, worked out by the National Committee on Religious Matters.

In support of Mr. Stretovych's position, Mr. Yushchenko stressed that people shouldn't be divided because they belong to different jurisdictions. "Does it make a difference what Church you go to?" he asked.

In addition, the CDU assembly passed a statement protesting the interference of state bodies in the internal affairs of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which has led to a division inside the Church. Participants of the assembly also condemned officials from the National Committee on Religious Matters for attending Church sobors (councils), which can be interpreted as interference in their internal affairs and contradicts constitutional provisions.

Though the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has united several parties, it should be noted that part of the Christian Democratic Party of Ukraine and the Republican Christian Party refused to join.

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