Ukrainian Catholics Have New Leader

Pope John Paul II has confirmed Archbishop Lubomyr Huzar as the Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and as Major Archbishop of L'viv.

This is undoubtedly one of the best things to have happened for Ukrainian Catholics in a very long time.

But let's backtrack for a moment.  Although Rome does not recognize patriarchal status for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ukrainian Catholics acknowledge their Primate a Patriarch and title him accordingly.

This tradition began with Patriarch Josyf Cardinal Slipyj who, in the spirit of the Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches of Vatican II, declared the Ukrainian Catholic Church to be a Patriarchate and her Head a Patriarch.

This move on the part of the Confessor upset Rome and the plans of those circles with respect to "Ostpolitik" and Moscow.  

Yet, the Vatican itself would not dare publicly humiliate a man who had spent 18 years in Siberia for his Catholic faith.  Instead, the Vatican sent some Ukrainian priests, who went willingly enough, to tell the Confessor that his move would not be recognized and that he should stop calling himself a Patriarch "for the good of the Church in Ukraine."

There has always been a division within the Ukrainian Catholic Church along the lines of what might be called a "Latin orientation" and a "Byzantine orientation."

The former perspective sees the Ukrainian Uniates as integrally related to the Roman Catholic Church, so much so, that "Rite" is really about merely external things that do not basically differentiate Eastern Catholics from Roman Catholics in terms of spirituality, canonical status etc.  

The "Latinophrones" among the Ukrainian Catholics would like an even closer relationship with the Roman Rite, even to the point of establishing a "referendum" on the subject of completely changing their historic Rite to the Latin Rite, as was discussed during a Bishops' Synod in Ukraine a few years back.

Those of the "Byzantine orientation," however, see themselves as "Orthodox" in every way, save and except their obedience to Rome.

Some even go so far as to call themselves "Orthodox in union with Rome," which, as Metropolitan Ohienko stated on more than one occasion, was the actual name of Uniates in the immediate aftermath of the Union of Brest in 1596.

Priests of the Byzantine orientation in the Ukrainian Catholic Church promote Byzantine Rite education and traditions in their parishes.  They discourage Latin devotions.  And they and their flock support the formal recognition of a Patriarchate for what is the largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world.  After all, the much smaller Coptic and Chaldean Catholics have their own Patriarchs.

By and large, one could always know whether one was in a Ukrainian Catholic parish of either the "Latin" or "Byzantine" orientations depending on whether the priests commemorated the Ukrainian Catholic Head as a "Patriarch" or not during the Liturgy.

Happily, the Byzantine orientation has won out, especially in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Catholic Church is experiencing a renaissance and where this orientation, which has always been associated with Ukrainian national pride and fervour, has triumphed.

Patriarch Lubomyr will be carrying on that tradition in a Church that has come to know him, and feel comfortable with him, as a defender of its rights, its traditions and its particular ecclesial government.

What is more, the new Patriarch is someone who has always got along famously with the Ukrainian Orthodox of all jurisdictions, which is no mean feat.

As such, he stands in the tradition of the handful of Uniate Metropolitans of the past who remained faithful to their Eastern traditions and so won the respect of both Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox.

His Beatitude Lubomyr Huzar was consecrated a Bishop by Patriarch Josyf Slypyj as the Confessor's designated successor.  Rome, however, decided to by-pass his choice and, instead, confirmed Myroslav Lubachivsky as the Ukrainian Catholic leader.

So what has changed?  Why is Rome so approving of someone who not only represents the Byzantine orientation in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, but also someone who is so connected to Patriarch Josyf, a former thorn in its side?

Perhaps Rome feels the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchal movement has spent itself.  If their leader wants to call himself a Patriarch, what is the harm in that today?

More than likely, however, the Vatican is probably trying to patch things up with those in Ukraine who have been heard to grumble about Rome's decided absence and apparent lack of interest in the Church there, especially on the eve of a papal visit.

Rome knows that the confirmation of Archbishop Lubomyr Huzar as Head of the Ukrainian Church (and a Cardinal) will send "good vibes" throughout western Ukraine and the Diaspora.

What is truly amazing here is that Rome does not acknowledge the Eastern Rite- Patriarchal aspirations of the Ukrainian Catholics, yet it can and does manipulate them for its political purposes.  Rome appointed Myroslav Lubachivsky to try and get Ukrainian Catholics "out of the habit" of calling their leader a Patriarch.  Now it has confirmed a leader who will doubtless rekindle the former popular fervour in this respect.

Finally, it might be added that the issue of better relations between Orthodox and Catholics is an important one.  Patriarch Lubomyr will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to it.

But again, the Vatican sees Orthodox-Catholic relations in Ukraine in terms of the relations between Eastern Catholics (Ukrainian) and "Ukrainian Orthodox" (Moscow Patriarchate).

This is an unfortunate perspective on the problem and only obfuscates the problem. The challenge of the new Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch is to solidify unity among Ukrainian Catholics, harmonize the consistency of their Rite and promote good relations among all Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox within the framework of common traditions and mutual national-cultural ties.

This would be a good opportunity for all Ukrainian Catholics in the Diaspora to "get it together" with respect to a consistent use of the patriarchal title and its commemoration during the Liturgy, especially by those members of religious Orders who have traditionally made a demonstration of not doing so.

There is a Ukrainian Catholic school in Toronto named in honour of Patriarch Josyf.  But it is called "Patriarch Josyf" school only in the Ukrainian language.  In English, it is "Cardinal Slypyj."  It is time to avoid that kind of dualism, however it is inspired.

In the euphoria that this appears to be creating for Ukrainian Catholics, we must remember the sobering side of Rome's confirmation of the new leader.

Rome is not affirming a Patriarchate for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, even though it may be moving in the direction of granting more local governing autonomy, especially in Ukraine.

The ongoing significance of the Ukrainian Catholic Church with respect to Rome-Moscow relations continues unabated.  The ongoing relevance of Uniatism continues as a big question mark for a Church that, at one and the same time, has a roster of many martyrs. 

It is a problem the Vatican itself will have to come to grips with, although at present it would seem the Roman attitude is to try and treat it like a tooth-ache - perhaps it will go away by itself.

The new Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch will definitely consolidate the Byzantine perspective throughout the Ukrainian Church.  Even those of the Latin orientation will take heed, seeing Rome's approbation of the new leader as a kind of approval of the strict Byzantine tradition.  

This will also undoubtedly put more smiles on the faces of those the Pope will visit in June when he makes his way to Ukraine.

At that time, the Vatican will be looking to see if there are any smiles on the faces of the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate . . .

As for the new Ukrainian Catholic Leader - Mnohaya Lita, Vladyko!  Many Years!

Please also see: New Papal Posturing

Dr. Alexander Roman  alex@unicorne.org