On the face of it the tabling of a draft bill in the Ukrainian Parliament on church values by Party of Regions MP Vadym Kolesnichenko looks like a good idea. After all, politicians and church leaders have been searching and failing to find some ground on unity for the various strands of the Orthodox church for years now. However, the bill is based solely on the doctrine of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill, who visited Ukraine in the summer.  And such a bill, which is a draft declaration on the dignity, freedom and rights of people, should also include the views of other Orthodox believers.
Kolesnichenko has used his post as a co-chairman of the inter-faction lawmakers group in support of the canonical Orthodox Church. However, he is also one of the leaders of the Russian-Speaking Ukraine movement. In the past the firebrand Kolesnichenko has spoken vociferously against the Ukrainian language and even in favour of scrapping dubbing of foreign films into the Ukrainian language. With the Party of Regions moving closer to getting a constitutional majority Kolesnichenko and his ilk may be feeling more confident about bulldozing almost anything legislation through Parliament.  However, church issues are a very delicate issue and should be the exclusive remit of the church and the flock. The various branches of the authorities should promote discussion and moves towards church unity and duly legitimize them. But they should not be taking sides and sidelining sections of the church. It is clear that more, not less, public debate on unity is needed. People like Kolesnichenko should be seeking more discussion and consensus before they get down to writing draft bills.