The All-Ukrainian Children and Family Rights Protection March was held in Kyiv and was attended by the representatives of different confessions seeking to ring the alarm and to promote the eternal values of our people, which are family, children and motherhood.
Parents with children, top clergy, members of religious organizations participated in the event in an attempt to bring attention to the challenges currently facing family life and parenthood. These challenges include the growing number of orphans in Ukraine, current threats to the institutions of marriage and traditional family life that seek to re-define God’s law and truths of human nature, and the inadequacy of social services.
Читай українською: СТАНЬМО НА ЗАХИСТ СПРАВЖНЬОЇ СІМ’Ї ТА НАШИХ ДІТЕЙ!
The march, initiated by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, issued a public statement titled ‘The Open Family and Children Protection Statement’. The document specifically addresses the negative impact of same-sex relationships and immoral life style that has been imposed on the Ukrainian society as a norm via propaganda and mass media. Parents have expressed frustration with the loss of life guidance, morality and ethics by the new generation. Parents have become increasingly concerned with these ‘modern trends’ and their impact–specifically the emotional and mental development of their children. The key objective of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations is to convey the basic moral principles in all the domains of social and personal life of people.
Homosexualism and same-sex marriages have been identified as the primary threat to the development of the healthy family unit in Ukrainian society. Same-sex unions and gender confusion ideologies, portrayed in the media as normal, have attempted to undermine the basis of the society. But this results from personal free but wrong human choice and is a manifestation of a sin deeply rooted in a human. God created humans as a man and a woman, and gave His blessing for them to get united into families and keep their dynasties going. A morally healthy and full-fledged family, that is a union of man and woman, constitutes the basis of the society, is aimed at preserving the gift of love, birth and full-fledged upbringing of children, contributes to preservation of social morale’.
The importance of traditional family values has been stressed by Fr. Kostyantyn Panteley, head of the Department of Pastoral Care of the Penitentiary System of Ukraine of the Patriarch Curia of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Fr. Panteley commented on this issue:
‘It is of utmost importance that society recognizes the severity of the threat posed to the institution of the family. Our politicians have established the framework for the legalization of civil partnerships. They have discussed the adoption of a variety of ‘anti-discrimination’ laws that would punish those who have expressed intolerance for sexual minorities. These politicians and same-sex advocates are intolerant of Christian values. Ukraine is approaching a moral abyss. If we are not courageous enough to protect our eternal values we will lose our chance for a dignified life’.
According to the Ukrainian Constitution (viz. article 51), marriage has been defined as a union ‘based on free consent between a woman and
a man. Each of the spouses shall have equal rights and duties in the marriage and family. Parents shall be obliged to sustain their children until they are of full age. Adult children shall be obliged to care for their parents who are incapable to work. The family, childhood, motherhood, and fatherhood shall be under the protection of the State’. Traditional Christian family values have become neglected and abandoned in some European countries. Ukrainian ‘European integration’ may sacrifice those values, though, according to God’s gift, every country is a supplement to the global community and a part of the core family of equal countries. If Ukrainian legislation is changed to accommodate these secular trends, the door will be opened for child adoption by same-sex pseudo couples — violating the multi-generational family unit.
This threat appeared not out of a sudden. It is, in fact, based on the problems between men and women, on their opposition. We are used to hearing the notion of the opposite sex. But, in fact, man and woman are the persons belonging to different but not opposite sexes.
One should respond to those challenges primarily through awareness-raising campaigns, flash mobs, and evidence provision. Families and individuals are asked to join this cause and share videos, articles, and photos on their social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) platforms and/or in their respective communities (cities, schools, etc.) in attempt to preserve and protect our moral and Christian values. A coordinated effort is needed to protect and preserve the family.
Nataliya PAVLYSHYN
Photos source: CREDO
