The leader of the Eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church has made what sounds to my ears like a strange proposal: He wants a single, unified patriarchate for both Catholics and Orthodox, independent from Moscow, Rome, and Constantinople, although he says it should be in communion with Rome.
The situation in Ukraine is complex. First, you have the tiny Latin-rite Catholic Church. It’s so small as to not really figure into the situation. Then you have the much larger Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Eastern rite, which is in union with Rome. Third, you have the various Orthodox patriarchates: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate, which split from Moscow after the fall of the Soviet Union; the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, which remained united to Moscow; and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, a much smaller Orthodox group that also broke from Moscow.
Rome has been reluctant to recognize the Ukrainian Catholic Church as a patriarchate, out of respect for the Orthodox’ sensitivities; but if Cdl. Husar could bring all the Orthodox and Catholic communities together, that would seem to remove the main obstacle.
I think this is a non-starter. The Melkite Catholics and Antiochian Orthodox (who are both descended from the Antiochian Patriarchy) tried something like this a few years ago, and it was rejected both by Rome and the various Orthodox jurisdictions.
I do give credit to the Eastern Catholics, however, for trying very hard to make reunion between East and West actually happen, and not just sit around and talk about it.
I think point #1 is that Kiev is an older See than Moscow. The Patriarchate moved to Moscow from there.
Another point is the Russification of Ukraine. The main beef between UOC-KP and UOC-MP (the 2 bigger Orthodox Churches)
Ukraine has been part of the Polish empire and the Russian empire at times. And occupied in the 20th century by Nazis and Commies. So there is a strong nationalism, a wounded pride, and a sense that their “moment” will return.
Lubomyr is speaking, I think, to the Urkainian Orthodox who dislike Moscow’s heavy hand. I understand the 2 Orthodox Churches (not the Moscow “branch”) have had warmer relations after JP2 visited there.
And he’s addressing the idea that the Ukrainian Church is a true church, the mother church of Russian, and as such, is entitled to it’s own Patriarch and all that goes with it. He’s sensitive to the effects of Latinization on the “uniate” Eastern Catholic churches since their union w/ Rome. A big deal for many.
Basically, in the Catholic sense, he IS the Patriarch. And now he’s talking like one.