Progress reported toward recognition of theology as a field of study in Ukraine (05/22/05)

Progress reported toward recognition of theology as a field of study in Ukraine

Religious Information Service of Ukraine

KYIV - Ukraine's Ministry of Education will study the issue of the government recognition of theology as a field of academic study, as well as the issue of granting the status of higher educational establishments to spiritual seminaries and academies. So says a report from the press service of the Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) posted on May 10.

The statement regarding the Ministry of Education was the subject of a letter (No. 41-02/125) from Deputy Secretary of State Markian Lubkivskyi to Volodymyr Stretovych, head of the CDU.

The letter was a response to an official statement by delegates of the seventh gathering of the CDU that took place on March 26 in Kyiv. The statement, which was sent to Ukraine's president, talked about granting official status to the academic field of theology and to spiritual schools.

The statement said, among other things: "The representatives of Churches and religious organizations that are active in Ukraine do not have the possibility to receive a religious education that is recognized at the state level. Formally, 173 religious schools (seminaries, academies, institutes, etc.) with over 20,000 students (as of early 2005) do not have the status of higher educational institutions, and the diplomas these schools offer upon completion are not recognized by the state. Thus, tens of thousands of priests, above all of Christian denominations, have no higher education as far as the state is concerned, and cannot work in non-religious (secular) institutions and organizations."

The Christian Democratic Union said it intends to carefully monitor the resolution of this issue, which is important for all Churches and denominations in Ukraine.

The movement for state recognition of theological education in Ukraine was initiated by the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). With UCU support, Vasyl Kremen, former minister of education, issued order No. 280 "On amending the list of fields and specialties offered to train specialists at higher educational establishments, according to respective educational and qualifying levels" on April 29, 2002, but the matter did not go farther.

During her first address on February 4, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko stressed the need for state recognition of religious education on par with other fields of study.

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