Soviet Union: Update to SUN5500 on the religious freedom of Ukrainian Greek Catholics
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SUN8747 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Soviet Union: Update to SUN5500 on the religious freedom of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, 1 June 1991, SUN8747, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abd747.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In April 1991, the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet adopted a law on the freedom of conscience and religious organizations, simplifying the procedure for official recognition of religious organizations (BBC 26 April 1991). This law permits the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, among others, to operate publicly (RFE 3 May 1991, 37).
According to a Minority Rights Group Report on religious minorities in the USSR, there have been tensions between Christian religious denominations in the Ukraine, including confrontations between the Ukrainian 'Uniate' [Greek] Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Church (January 1991, 2). The article also indicates that the Moscow Patriarchate has opposed the reestablishment of the Catholic Church in the Western Ukraine (Ibid.)
The attached article from Uncaptive Minds provides additional information on the Greek Catholic Church in the Ukraine. Further information on this topic is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
Bibliography
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 26 April 1991. "Ukrainian Supreme Soviet Adopts Law on Freedom of Conscience."
Minority Rights Group. January 1991. Soviet Minorities. "Religious Minorities."
Radio Free Europe. 3 May 1991, Vol. 3, No. 18. Report on the USSR. "The USSR This Week."
Attachments
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 26 April 1991. "Ukrainian Supreme Soviet Adopts Law on Freedom of Conscience."
Radio Free Europe. 3 May 1991, Vol. 3, No. 18. Report on the USSR. "The USSR This Week."
Uncaptive Minds. November-December 1990, Vol. III, No. 5 (14). Pospieszalski, Antoni. "Catholics, Orthodox, Uniat and Others."
