From: Cataloguer June 16, 2014
Dear
All,
For
24 years, since 1990, the UOCC had been sitting on the fence in satisfaction,
as the EP continued with his destructive policies on religion in Ukraine. He
was the one most reponsible for legitimizing the transfer of the Ukrainian
legacy of St. Volodymyr to Moscow in his public announcements. Suddenly
the ROC decided it didn't need Bart at the latest celebrations and disinvited
him from participation even though he deserved the most credit. Why share the
limelight?
Bart
then announced that he was no longer the first among equals but was at the top
of the heap and was heading to Jerusalem for discussions with Pope Francis to
demonstrate his remaining clout to Kyryl (while also sending a delegation to
Moscow to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the Feast Day
of St. Cyril). But he had forgotten he still had the albatross of the
Ukrainian Medal of Freedom 'round his neck.
Yanukovych
was desperate in the days before his helicopter escape (a common jail-escape
procedure in Quebec :-) He needed support from his old buddies in
Constantinople. Did they know that Yanuks had grabbed $ 100 billion from
Ukraine in his years as commander? (that is the figure being tossed
about). Yanuks offered an award to the KP but this was refused. He
knew Bart was an easy mark and tried the same ploy in Constantinople. To
his surprise, his proffered "Medal of Freedom" was accepted.
Ukrainians
had already suffered many indignities from Constantinople since 1686 but this
ironic "Medal of Freedom" from a president that was in the pocket of
Putin was the icing on the cake. Bart could not have been conscious when
accepting this medal since he was not aware that he would be contributing
to the problem of the destruction of human dignity and freedom in Ukraine by
supporting this dictator.
But
religions have other ways to determine supreme value than through dignity.
Christianity emphasizes love and redemption through Christ ("Society finds
common ground upholding human dignity" by Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, C5
June 14, 2014). Harvard political
philosopher Michael Rosen argues that society has to legally allow other people
to act undignified as long as it doesn't directly infringe others' rights.
Did
Bart act undignified and did his actions infringe on the rights of Ukrainian
Orthodox in accepting the medal from Yanukovych (now wanted for murder) or
was he emphasizing the need for more love and a redemption for Yanuks?
Cataloguer