A more peaceful life

On the occasion of the tragic aftermath of the dramatic events of November 18, when 72 miners died in Zasyadko’s coal mine in Ukraine, 28 still missing, Pope Benedict XVII expressed his grief to the relatives and government authorities in a message to the President of the Republic Victor Yushchenko. The Ukranian bishop msgr. VASYLIY SEMENYUK , from Ternopoli’s eparchy, (Zboriv) was recently in Genoa where he had a meeting with Bishops Conference President archbishop Angelo Bagnasco. Sir Europe asked the bishop his views on matters relating to the political situation in the Country, his expectations in the EU, the religious sentiment of the population, globalization problems and the dissemination of a hedonistic mentality among the youth. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. “After the recent parliamentary elections we are awaiting the creation of the democratic forces coalition which will ensure the development of democratic values in Ukraine. We hope that such values may progress also in the future”, said msgr. Semenyuk referring to the political situation of the Country. “On various occasions the president said that our citizens hope that Ukraine may soon become part of the EU, so we expect that the EU may receive and support the growth of our Country in this direction”. The Country is certainly experiencing “a difficult social and economic process”, but “in representing the Church we cannot directly influence this process, nor can we directly control the phenomenon of immigration”. “Many people immigrate to find a job and in the hope of a secure future”. In this context “we have the task to give appropriate assistance to those who need it”. “FULL-FLEDGED” FAITH. As relates to the religious situation, msgr. Semnyuk affirmed: “In this period faith is marked by a series of positive processes” first and foremost, religious freedom, “so that today we can regularly perform pastoral work”. Other positive aspects include the recovery of the churches, “or at least of a large part of those confiscated by the State in 1946”. “People can come to Church on Sundays and on holidays and can participate in the sacraments” he continued. From a pastoral viewpoint “thanks God the churches are full and we are deeply committed in the Catechesis of the youth and of adults who in a not too distant past lost the possibility of learning the message of the Gospel”. There are, however, some problems. “There are few Churches, especially in the Eastern parts of Ukraine”, the bishop said, “the Soviet regime was established here before the Western regions”. Msgr. Semenyuk finally expressed his concern “for problems connected with globalization and consumerist mentality which affects also young Ukrainians”- However we “maintain a deep hope because faith wasn’t shattered, now it is free to be a full-fledged faith”, the bishop affirmed. Fact FilePOLITICAL SITUATION. On September 30 Ukrainian citizens went to vote for the fifth time in four years to elect the new National Parliament (Verkhovna Rada). The outcome confirmed the sad scenario of Rada still divided between pro-European front guided by President Viktor Yushenko and by Yulia Tymoshenko, and the pro-Russian front of Premier Viktor Yanukovic. The major problem lies in the young constitution which still doesn’t clearly outline the responsibilities of the various State authorities. This constitutional chaos needs to be remedied in order to allow the Country to act as an operative democracy. RELIGIOUS SITUATION . The population majority belongs to the Orthodox Church. However, USSR collapse initiated a series of divisions which today has brought to the establishment of three different Orthodox Churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the Patriarch of Moscow (Alexis II) and which previously was the only one present; the Ukrainian autocephalous Church under Kiev’s Patriarchate, created in June 1992, (led by Patriarch Filerete, excommunicated by the Church of Moscow), the Ukrainian orthodox autocephalous Church, marked by strong nationalism. The Catholic Church is the second largest religious community which is divided in two rites. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church with Byzantine rite (called “uniates” by the Orthodox) and the Latin Catholic Church. The Churches are headed by two cardinals, card. Lubomyr Husar, for the Greek-Catholic Church; card. Marian Jaworski for the Latin Church. This choice marks the importance that the Church of Rome gives to the area.