Bishop Borys (Gudziak) at “Business Credo”: Ukraine’s Increasing Difficulties Is a Great Opportunity

This view the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Bishop Borys (Gudziak), expressed during a meeting with businessmen during a meeting of the Business Credo club, which is part of the Lviv Business School of UCU. The meeting “How to Overcome Political Challenges” was moderated by journalist Tatiana Danylenko.

According to Bishop Borys, in psychological, sociological, and public aspects Ukraine today is in a state of adolescence, and thus, by definition, is not fully mature. “So we remain on the surface of value issues. But our society is open to the spiritual word (Ukrainians more and more are heeding to the words of His Beatitude Lubomyr and Patriarch Sviatoslav) – previously it was not so.”

When asked by businessmen how to fight apathy, the bishop said: “There is no universal prescription. It is hard to fight apathy – but leave it, and just do your job well. The Ukrainian Catholic University’s motto for this year is “Take it and Do it.” We should not pass responsibility to the government but be ready to take it ourselves – otherwise desired changes will not take place. We need to start with basic radical needs that are most marginalized in our society – when trust is asserted and a person risks opening up to another,” said the bishop.

In Ukraine, according to the bishop, it is important to develop a culture of law and rights, which can help political and social culture reach a new type of communication.

The rector of UCU also touched upon the issue of emigration. In his opinion, it is mostly talented and creative people who are leaving Ukraine: “Emigration is an unfortunate phenomenon; the only thing we can do is to help others. When we lose the illusions that we can easily prevail over the situation, then the challenges are opportunities and we will not be disappointed. God, who holds the universe in the palm of his hand, gives me and you the will to make wrong decisions and offers us a world of love, not imposing anything. Because he respects the will of people in a holistic way,” said the bishop.

The meetings of the Business Credo discussion club provide opportunities for business owners and executives to hold business talk with leading thinkers and public figures in the Ukrainian and international environment.

Guest speakers at previous meetings were the renowned Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, Vice Rector of UCU Myroslav Marynovych, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, historian and journalist Yaroslav Hrytsak, publisher and poet Ivan Malkovych.

UCU Press Service