CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Belarus: limiting of abortionsThe list of social indications for abortion on late term reduced from ten to two items in Belarus. The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers of Belarus in January. According to official statistics, 8% of Belarusian abortions occurred at term between 12 and 22 weeks. "This is a terrible procedure, called late abortion or artificial birth", explains a pro-life activist Vladzislav Valakhovich. Now the social reasons for late abortion can be only fact of rape or termination of parental rights. "Of course, this is only a small step forward, because the majority of abortions on this term are made for medical and genetic reasons. Nevertheless, some children will be saved thanks to new law, because earlier late abortions could be done on such absurd social reasons, as many children in the family or divorce during pregnancy", continues Valakhovich. As he added, this limitation of abortions is only a "small answer" to the request presented by Catholic and Orthodox Churches last year. Other matters like interdiction of all abortions, right for medical workers to have religious or conscience objections regarding performing of abortions or use of contraception, banning of sterilization as one of the methods of contraception and surrogate motherhood, still remain open for discussion on the level of the society and authorities. Ukraine: question of recognition of theological educational institutionsLilia Hrynevych, head of the Committee on Education and Science of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, met with representatives of Christian Churches this week. The participants of the meeting discussed questions of state recognition of theological educational institutions. In particular, they discussed the bill "On higher education" submitted to the Supreme Council and supported a bill submitted by the opposition deputies. According to them, this is "the only submitted bill suggesting a real mechanism of state recognition of spiritual educational institutions". They also presented proposals on its further improvement. Lilia Hrynevych stressed the importance of a dialogue with the Church community and noted that "the situation when the state allowed to establish theological educational institutions but at the same time is not willing to acknowledge their graduates’ diplomas is to be settled on the legislative level". According to the press service of the Supreme Council, the meeting was attended by rectors and vice rectors of the spiritual and theological educational institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, coordinator of the education development of the Euro-Asian Accreditation Association, Taras Diatlyk and deputy head of the Public Council on Cooperation with Churches and Religious Organizations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Yurii Reshetnikov.Czech republic: events of Jubilee Year in progressThe archbishopric of Olomouc hosted a session of the Commission for celebration of the Cyrilo-methodian jubilee in Czech republic on 13 February. Representatives of all institutions in charge discussed the progress in preparations for this event of a "great national significance", exchanged their experiences and were informed about activities aimed to support and promotion of the events within the framework of the official program. The work on the documentary about two Thessalonian brothers was presented and the list of events for the forthcoming weeks was completed. An ecumenical discussion over important topics of Christian theology and contemporary society entitled "The adventure of Great Moravia" took take place at Velehrad last week, followed by a lecture and discussion on the topic "Pilgrimages in Bohemian lands" on 19 February and historical excursion to architecture of Great Moravia on 20 February. Every day there are various local events held all around the country and their organizers "are glad to see the interest of the citizens in the heritage of Ss. Cyril and Methodius". For more information: www.velehrad.eu.
