A stop to the homosexual infection

                      (A pastoral letter to the faithful of the eparchy of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomiya)

Dear faithful,

the Ivano-Frankivsk region is considered the most Catholic territory, and even the most religious one in general, in all Ukraine. IT IS PAINFUL THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE GIVEN THEIR PERMISSION TO ORGANIZE A BREAKTHROUGH HOMOSEXUAL CAMPAIGN SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER. Supposing there is a breakthrough in Ivano-Frankivsk, similar actions will continue in other towns as well. The aim of this campaign is to legalize homosexual marriages and thus to put them on an equal footing with natural marriage. Deputies from Eastern Ukraine did not allow this campaign on their territory, for it has a morally devastating impact on all Ukraine. That does them honour!

How did this campaign proceed in other states where the laws of homosexual marriages have already been enforced?

1)      First the newspapers and journals start issuing articles discussing the topic and TV and radio launch a propaganda campaign.

2)      Afterwards a big demonstration of homosexuals, a so-called gay-parade, takes place in a certain town, the mass media present it as an example and so-called experts give expert opinions with the aim of changing the public opinion: forcing a belief upon the people that what runs counter to nature is natural. Throughout history no nation, neither the most developed nor the most corrupt one, has ever had official marriages of homosexuals. Various epidemics and anomalies did spread at all times; however, if they had been legalized, they would have wiped out the whole society.

3)      The medial campaigns are followed by systematic pressures on the deputies, forcing them to pass the laws of homosexual marriages. (It is as if the blind claimed a right to drive a car. A homosexual couple can never form a functional family inevitable for a healthy development of children. “The law of homosexual marriages is a discriminating law”, said the Czech President V. Klaus.)

4)      Once homosexual marriage is legalized, the campaign is by no means brought to an end but afterwards the laws of so-called homophobia start to gain ground. And the consequences? When gay activists then start to seduce children in schools into homosexuality, THE PARENTS WHO WILL STAND UP FOR THE DEFENCELESS CHILDREN WILL BE PUT by these gay activists ON TRIAL and may even end up in PRISON. This all, however, will already be in compliance with the law.

Dear priests and faithful, we would like to remind that on 24th May 2009 our orthodox Catholic Synod wrote a letter to all MPs of Ukraine concerning the launched homosexual campaign. We clearly pointed out therein what is the attitude of the Holy Scripture and of the whole Christian Tradition.

Homosexuality is not only a grave sin but it runs counter to human nature. For this perversity God chastised Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from heaven (cf. Gen 14-16). This punishment was set forth as an example for all peoples and all times (cf. Jude 7-9). Homosexuals do not have a share in the Kingdom of God (cf. 1Cor 6:9f). Homosexuality is the result of falling away from true God to pagan idolatry (cf. Rom 1:18ff). God demands a definite attitude: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (Lev 18:22) Regrettably, the official Church authority, Card. L. Husar, assumes an attitude contrary to the Holy Scripture. In his book Discussions with His Beatitude L. Husar: On Postconfessional Christianity he says: “Homosexuals can live together if they insist on it... Of course, they can perform sexual activity of whatever kind but their love will always remain unfruitful.” God’s Word, however, does not call this activity love but an abomination! They cannot live together, and if they do they persist in sin, set a bad example and refuse repentance. In case of death they will be eternally condemned. The odds are 1 in 1 000 000 of repenting in the last moment. Christians, and in the first place bishops and priests, are obliged to call a sin a sin so that those who fell into it may find the way to God and to salvation.

How can the MPs of Ukraine or representatives of the regions defend the family against disintegration if the heretical structure of the Church proclaims a different gospel and different morals, which run counter to the essence of the Holy Scripture and Tradition of the Apostles? Nobody can be saved on false foundations, but one falls under a curse and punishment. In the pastoral letter to the faithful of the UGCC of 20th May 2009 our orthodox Catholic Synod brought attention to the campaign which aims at disintegration of the individual, family and nation. Therefore we called upon the believers of all Ukraine to pray to God continually day and night for cessation of this homosexual campaign, starting from the Day of Pentecost and ending on the feast of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. We presented a model of how to pray continually.

A)    Dear priests and faithful of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, we present this model to You as well. We hereby ask You all, but especially the priests, each in his parish, to set so-called prayer-guards. 24 (23) people occupy 24 hours of the day; one person – one prayer-guard (one hour). They pray during this hour for ten days every month. From 1st to 10th the prayer-guards for prohibition against the planned demonstration in Ivano-Frankivsk are kept by all other regions of Ukraine except Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomiya. From 10th to 20th – by the believers of the Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy. From 21st to 30th (31st) – by the believers of the Kolomiya eparchy. All participants pray daily (throughout the month) the so-called holy hour from 8 to 9 pm. These prayers will last until 14th October 2009. At 9 pm priests send their blessing, from the place where they are, to all prayer-guards in their parishes.

B)     It is recommended that the participants keep the fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays. Who cannot fast in this way can keep at least the fast without meat on these days. Who wants to fast more can keep a three-and-a-half-day fast, i.e. for half a week (number 3½ - cf. Rev 11:3.9; 12:6.14). How? For example: You finish Your supper on Sunday evening at 6 pm. Till Monday supper (at 6 pm) You eat nothing – i.e. 24 hours = 1 day. The same from Tuesday supper till Wednesday supper (24 hours = 1 day). Then the fast continues from Thursday evening till Saturday morning (36 hours = 1½ day). One can fast on water only. God’s Word says: “This spirit (of homosexual perversion) does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (cf. Mt 17:21)

C)    Every Friday people shall gather in front of the Regional Council in Ivano-Frankivsk from 3 to 4 pm where they shall pray in silence and sing spiritual songs with the intention of bringing the secular authority to prohibit the homosexual parades and propagation of homosexuality. They may carry creative placards. The purpose is to save the family and to save the nation. Therefore it is necessary to cry to God continually day and night (cf. Lk 18:7) and to offer sacrifices and fasting with this intention. Once this infection penetrates into the Church and nation, it will be late. Now through this prevention we can be saved from God’s curse, punishment and catastrophes.

Our orthodox Catholic Synod has appealed to Bishops V. Vijtyshyn, S. Mudryi and M. Simkaylo to actively support the believers in the concrete fight for God’s laws and to stand against the homosexual campaign, or, if need be, to personally visit the representatives of state administration with a plea for cancellation of the homosexual actions. By this step the bishops named will separate from the official attitude of Card. L. Husar and at the same time publicly renounce his other heresies as well, whereby they will de facto confess the biblical and Catholic faith and morals.

An example to follow or to give encouragement: On 18th June 2005 a 500 000-strong demonstration for the protection of the family took place in Madrid. It was a protest against the planned licence for homosexual marriages and adoption of children by these couples. Among the participants of the demonstration there were also 20 bishops and quite a number of politicians. Similar protest actions took place in Lithuania this year, likewise with the support of the local hierarchy. In Russia, the youth as well as state authorities put up a stiff resistance to homosexuals. Far more radically would the gay-parades be put to an end in Turkey or Iran. They may try it there in place of Ukraine...

The gay activists proceed purposefully – struggling to push through their action in Ivano-Frankivsk at any cost! Catholic believers, but also the Orthodox and other Christians, are obliged today to do their best with the purpose of preventing the action in Ivano-Frankivsk at any cost! Today on behalf of the supreme authority we speak unto You this word of prophecy – God calls even upon You through Moses and now through us: “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, that you may live.” (Deut 30:15-16)

The spirit which is behind homosexuality is a spirit of rebellion against God. The Lord expressly says: “you shall surely perish!” God gave a warning example for perversity in Sodom and Gomorrah, when fire came down from heaven and burnt up both cities!

God’s Word says clearly: “This was given as a warning to all future generations.” (cf. 2Pt 2:6) The legalization of homosexual marriages is a sign of loss of the common sense, conscience and morals. There is only one way to salvation and that is repentance! Therefore we, the bishops of the orthodox Catholic Synod from Ukraine, call You in the name of God: Pray day and night and do not allow the homosexual epidemic to break out in any of the towns of the Ivano-Frankivsk region and to attack Ukraine. God speaks this to You through our mouth and we interpret it to You in the name of the Church.

Bishops of the Standing orthodox Catholic Synod of the UGCC

                                + Eliáš OSBM, + Metod?j OSBM, + Markian OSBM, + Samuel OSBM

                                                                                                                               Pidhirtsi, 3rd July 2009

Copies to:

- The Holy Father Benedict XVI

- President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko

- Deputies of the Ukrainian Parliament

- Representatives of the town of Ivano-Frankivsk and regional state administration

- Representatives of the Orthodox and the Catholic Church

- Representatives of other Christian denominations in Ukraine