Belief in One’s Own Infallibility

The Day has been receiving numerous letters, of which many broach religious subjects. Some of these letters are extremely interesting, presenting a clear picture of Ukrainian society, its intellectual, educational, and democratic standards. Some of the authors are very optimistic, firmly believing in a better future.

Now, however, I would like to dwell on other letters — many unfortunately — expressing different views. These are saturated with hatred and contempt toward all those professing different views or religious affiliations. At times reading such letters is truly frightening. Naturally, their authors point many accusing fingers at this newspaper. Not because we have criticized their church or confession but because we do not lash out at all the other “enemy” churches. They are especially irritated by our open acknowledgment of the fact that every citizen has a right to profess a religion freely, as well as by our trying to keep an unbiased stand and be polite toward every reader, regardless of church or creed.

After analyzing such letters over a long period certain conclusions are in order. There appear to be three groups of readers particularly dissatisfied by the editorial policy: members of the Great White Brotherhood (Ukr. abbr., VBB); adherents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), and atheists. As for the latter, we must stand corrected, for we have practically carried no articles dealing with the so-called “scientific atheism,” because we consider that this “science” has for a number of decades occupied a conspicuous (mildly speaking) place in Ukrainian society, meaning that our readers cannot help being versed in the subject, to a varying degree. About VBB: we do not belong to the Great White Brothers and, of course, we resolutely denounce any form of religious extremism. We have always tried to stick to hard facts (rather than public prosecutor’s statements) with regard to this religious community. One such recent fact is Yuri Kryvonohov’s authentic letter (he once held a rather important place in the VBB hierarchy). In response we received several letters filled with rage from certain white brotherhood branches. And we are not only criticized there. Thus, the VBB branch, awaiting “the transfer of power of the entire world to Mariya Devi Khrystos” (i.e., Doomsday) this February, declares they have entered this author into the list of those condemned to eternal torment.

Since Eastern Orthodox communities within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) have become more active, they have been closely and very critically following every religious article carried by this newspaper. (By way of consolation we must point out that the truly conservative circles of the Russian Orthodox Church are dissatisfied even by their own hierarchy, Patriarch Alexiy II included, whom they regard as not Orthodox enough). The impression is that the orthodox brotherhood zealots are checking the media for loyalty as meticulously as their unforgettable predecessors, the Communist Party censors. These subscribers are perfectly confident of their own infallibility, superiority, and exclusiveness. They send voluminous messages best described as bills of indictment for no obvious reasons, filled with rhetoric rather than facts. They also practice anonymous phone calls to hateful authors with threats that are considerably more specific than their awaited Judgment Day. Naturally, we publish readers’ views, different as they are. We would also publish these epistles, except that they adamantly forbid any “abridgment or corrections.” The editors have no right to make public all the rude accusations hurled by these “defenders of Orthodoxy” at their religious or political opponents. Their latest target is ex- President Leonid Kravchuk after The Day carried his interview.

I would like to end on a truly Christian note of tolerance. We all know that before 1989 Leonid Kravchuk was openly opposed to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Today, he wholeheartedly supports its revival. I had an opportunity to ask Bishop Liubomyr Huzar, second in command of this church, for comment. He had this to say, “First and foremost, everyone must be free to voice his views. Mr. Kravchuk’s political path reminds me of St. Paul, originally named for the ancient Hebrew King Saul, who at first ardently persecuted Jesus and then was one of the first among His apostles. I think that it is not so much the person that changes at a time of radical change as does his actions; that person receives a certain powerful impetus that guides him to embark on a new path. From then on all of his energy and talent are dedicated to the new cause. Perhaps one ought to wonder more about all those people who do not change, no matter how much the world around them changes.”