Head of the UGCC called to vote and to choose

“We want to bring attention to the fact that being able to vote without being forced and entirely free is a large privilege. But at the same time, in an independent state, the freedom to vote is also the holy duty of a citizen,” such an opinion was heard from His Beatitude Lubomyr, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, at the today's press conference The press conference took place on the occasion of the publication of the address of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric to the faithful of UGCC and to the people of good will on the occasion of the second round of presidential elections of Ukraine. The address describes the responsibility everyone has to make his choice. In the opinion of the synod, to freely, without external force, choose the leader of the state is a great privilege. To disregard this privilege, not to vote, “is not a wise decision, but rather the other way around. To take advantage of the right to choose means to show civic maturity and responsibility. On the contrary, not to vote means to avoid responsibility,” write the authors of the address. His Beatitude Lubomyr underlined that this address is a “document of church and spiritual character, and is not a political appeal directed on behalf of one or another candidate for president.” The desire of the bishops, he remarked, is to bring the attention of the clergy, laity, members of the UGCC, and others who wants to listen to the advice of church pastors to participate in the election. “We call not to vote ‘against all’ but rather to declare who of the two candidates we wish to prudently and consciously elect as president,” the head of the UGCC remarked. Also, the synod brings the attention of the faithful of the churches to the fact that during such an important event for our people as elections, they must behave like Christians. “It means to be conscious of God’s presence, God’s sorrow for us, and from the other side, a sincere successive observance of God’s Law is required from us,” explained the head of the UGCC. It means that we must achieve that which we demand from our candidates: complete responsibility and the honor of God’s Law. “It means respect for people, respect for their rights, and all that our religion dictates,” remarked His Beatitude Lubomyr.

Information Department of the UGCC