Some more background on the Ukranian protests. These are NOT like Occupy protests, note the prayer tents at protests, set up for protesters to pray and make confession. No rape tents.
The government is also going after the Church, restricting religious services. Sound familiar?
KIEV, Ukraine (CNS) — The Ukrainian Catholic Church has accused the government of Soviet-style repression after it was threatened with new restrictions for backing demonstrators protesting the country’s withdrawal from a deal with the European Union.
“Our church has always been true and will remain so for the future mission that Christ the Savior entrusted, despite all the threats,” said Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
“For the first time (since) Ukraine’s independence, we are hearing threats that the church could be banned in a court action. … We thought the time of repression had passed,” he said.
The 43-year-old church leader spoke at a Jan. 13 Kiev news conference after receiving a letter from the Ukrainian Culture Ministry complaining of a “systematic disregard for the law by some priests” with “alleged support from the church authorities.”
Culture Minister Leonid Novokhatko said the letter, signed by his deputy, Tymophy Kokhan, “contained no requirements or threats,” but only cited Ukraine’s Law on Freedom of Conscience. Article 21 restricts religious services, unless otherwise authorized, to religious buildings, places of pilgrimage, private homes and cemeteries and, despite that, Ukrainian Catholics and other Christians have erected “prayer tents” at the demonstration sites.
HT: Mary Chastain