11,1,11 I refer to your report of April 23 on the Ukrainian Church and its adherents in this country?
In recent months much has been written about the disturbances and demonstr:1110115 which have taken place in Ukrainian Catholic Churches throughout England and. in particular. the frequent attempts to prevent Bishop Augustine Hornyak, the Exarch for Ukrainians in (treat Britain. from addressing his people.
Such unprecedented behaviour by so-called Ukranian Catholics must have left many of your English readers completely nonplussed and. therefore. as a long-standing member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the position to your readers, These profane acts are the organised work of a small but seemingly powerful group of Ukrainian politically-inspired fanatics who, in order to turn fan tasy into reality, and in the belief that they are better versed in Canon Law than either their Bishop, or the Holy Father himself, have seen fit
to set themselves up as the "bully boys" or the Ukrainian community. They purport to he supporting the creation of a self-styled Patriarchate
for Cardinal Joseph Slipyj, Archbishop Major and Metropolitan of Lviv, which the Vatican has steadfastly refused to grant because of territorial and Canonical difficulties.
But it would seem that this is perhaps merely a veil for their true aim. which is to complete here the destruction of the Ukrainian Catholic Church begun by the Communists in their own native land.
The activities of this particular group of people surpass. however.
even those Of the Communists since, whereas the actions if Communists arc often motivated by a
Holy Places of Israel
As one who lived for a number of years in the Holy Land 1 appreciated Barbara HamiltonSmith's article (April 23) and her dismay at discovering how many of the Holy Places have alternative sites.
One fact, however. needs correction. Her second "Emmaus" was not "almost destroyed in the Six Day War." Amwas, together with the neighbouring villages of Yalu and Beit Nuha, were destroyed by Israeli action after the fighting had stopped. Violet Barbour The Barn House, South Newington, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Running sore of Ulster
Should we dismiss A. .1 P. Taylor's call for withdrawal of British troops from Ulster without further thought? Should we assume that the British presence must reMin in Ulster indefinitely? Surely we can't ignore Irish history — the potato famine and all that?
Whatever our view of the IRA we must continue to ask relevant questions — despite pompous statements by people such as Professor Brogan who say its intellectually perverse to support A. J. P. Taylor's viewpoint. Ulster's future should he the debate in Britain today: taking priority over inflation, economic growth and nongrowth. and other materialist obsessions.
Derek Abbott 16 Holland Road.
London. W14 very misguided but. nevertheless genuine belief in the non-existence of God. this group not only have the temerity to cull themselves believers, but actually seek to justify their diabolical actions by purporting to do them in God's name. They could perhaps he described AS "super Chauvinists", who during ens made public exhibitions of cossetting on the floor of the church in hypocritical homage to their Creator. but on Easter Sunday saw fit yet again wilfully to prevent their Bishop from preaching to his people. A Christian Name and address supplied.
Richard Dowdcn's article of April 23 contains several misleading and inaccurate statements, and comes extremely close to libelling the Ukranian emigre community.
Concerning the financial boycott, the article misinforms us that "collection, are made from the people for their own political purposes". The true situation is that the Ukrainian political organisations ,ntw an tiketnhieeir own collections in their
, the collections referred to in the article are those made on behalf of the Ukrainian Patriarchal Committee, which represents a wide spectrum of Ukrainian community organisations in Britain. and then forwards the money to Cardinal Shpyi as Patriarch in Rome. The article accurately describes the Banderites as an antiCo mmuri ist organisation, but neglects to inform us that they are but a faction of pro -Patriarchal opinion. The article also describes the set-up of the organisation, neglecting to inform us that the Ukrainian nationalist movement, of 5% Inch the lianderites are part, is in the USSR an illegal. underground political organisation and maintains its structure in the West on this basis.
In recent years a rift has developed and grown between the Ukrainian community and the Ukrainian Rite priests in Britain. The cause of the rift lies in the differences in opinion concerning the aim of the emigre Ukrainian community to serve as an informed, experienced vanguard against Russian Communism.
Contemporaneously with the Vatican's pursuit of détente and apeasement Of Moscow, the Ukrainian Rite priests, under the leadership of Bishop Hernyak. have Instigated u . progressive "I sit inisation" of the tlkranian Rite -devaluing its spiritual and cultural heritage and significance with imported gimmickry, neglect of traditional values and their own increasingly materialistic inclinations. witness the informants' financial hie:dings. This process has raised apprehension among large sections of the Ukrainian community that this process is reminiscent of the process of "Russilieation" of the IIkr:tinian life style, language, culture and heritage by the Soviet authorities in the Ukraine witness the protests of the dissident V a lent\ 11 Moroi among many others.
Andrij ('hymera 11 Norwood Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire.