UGCC will be merciful to those who were entrapped by sects, including that of “Pidhirtsi”.

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will be very merciful and open in consideration to those who were entrapped by sects, including that of “pidhirtsi” and it will give them a chance to return to the Church of Christ, to the Catholic Church. This was announced by the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, in an interview to the publication «Zaxid.net», answering a journalist’s question whether the Church has made arrangements against schismatics, like a "Gognal’s group" (so called "Pidhirtsi fathers").
His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminded that we are dealing with "very aggressive non-Christian techniques that replace in substance the spiritual life." And these techniques, continued the UGCC Primate, create for a modern man an illusion of experiencing the mystical experience.
"But it has nothing to do with traditional Christianity -  stressed out His Beatitude. - Obviously, any such a sectarian trend is a challenge for the Church, perhaps even a God’s whip for us to be more effective pastors and not to lose our vigilance and activity. And I think that our reaction will have several components. First, we want clearly and expressly not to allow such pseudo Christian movements to take the name of the Church, including ours". "On the other hand, - said the Primate of the UGCC - we will be informing our faithful about what the truth is. And this is Church’s vocation: to witness the truth. We respect the right for religious freedom or the right to profess any religion. But in this case, I think we should call things by their proper name and allow people to make a conscious choice, "- concluded His Beatitude Sviatoslav. ***
So-called 'Pidhirtsi fathers "- is an unregistered and not officially recognized organization. The State Committee of Ukraine on Nationalities and Religions refused them registration under the name "Ukrainian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church," arguing it with "respect for the traditions and internal regulations of religious organizations," referring to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO) in which the name "Catholic "can only be used in concordance  with the official ecclesiastical authority. Recently, His Beatitude Lubomyr called Pidhirtsi fathers a "sect." And the Order of Saint Basil the Great on June 29 made the final decision about dismissal or exclusion (cf. CCEO 550-553) of 29 sisters of St. Elijah the Prophet Contemplative Monastery located in Brukhovychi in the suburbs of Lviv. The reason for the dismissal was that these Sisters broke relations with the General Board and recognized their subordination to the excommunicated from the Catholic Church priests, including Illia Dognal. This decision was approved by the Apostolic See and the Congregation for the Eastern Churches (14 May 2011), and each Sister after this announcement was addressed a decree about dismissal.

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