2010 2(37) - UCWLC

The memorandum from the Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University(CUC) represents a troubling development in Ukraine. Please read.Memorandum Regarding theVisit to the UCU of a Representative of theSecurity Service of Ukraine (SBU) (former KGB)(responsible for contacts with Churches)З УкраїниFrom UkraineAt 9:27 in the morning Fr. Borys Gudziak received acall on his private mobile phone from a representativeof the Security Service of Ukraine requesting ameeting. The meeting was scheduled for 20 minutes laterat the rectorate of UCU. This official had had contactswith the UCU rectorate a year ago at the time of the visitto the university of the then President of Ukraine ViktorYushchenko. He had made a visit to the rectorate inthe late afternoon on May 11 with regard to a request ofthe Ecumenical and Church History Institutes to sign anagreement to use the SBU archives. At that time membersof the rectorate were away from the office. He had, whatDr. Antoine Arjakovsky, director of the Institute of EcumenicalStudies, called a “very good meeting.”Upon arrival on May 18 in a polite manner the agentrelated that certain political parties are planning protestsand demonstrations regarding the controversial (and insome cases inflammatory) policies of the new Ukrainianauthorities. Students are to be engaged in these protests.There is a danger that some of these manifestations maybe marred by provocations. He stated that, of course,students are allowed to protest but that they should bewarned by the university administration that those involvedin any illegal activities will be prosecuted. Illegalactivities include not only violent acts but also, for example,pickets blocking access to the workplace of governmentofficials (or any protests that are not sanctionedby authorities).After his oral presentation the agent put on the tablebetween us an unfolded one-page letter that was addressedto me. He asked me to read the letter and then acknowledgewith a signature my familiarity with its contents. Hestated that after I had read and signed the letter it would benecessary for him to take the letter back. Since I could seethat the document was properly addressed to me as rector(I also noticed that it had two signatures giving it a particularlyofficial character) I replied calmly that any letter addressedto me becomes my property and should stay withme—at least in copy form. Only under these conditionscould I agree to even read the letter (much less sign).❝Our conversation also had a pastoral moment.I cautioned the agent of the fact that the SBU as theformer KGB, with many employees remaining fromthe Soviet times, has a heavy legacy of breaking andcrippling people physically and morally and that he as ayoung married person should be careful not to fall intoany actions that would cause lasting damage to his ownidentity and shame his children and grandchildren.The agent was evidently taken aback by my response.It seemed that the situation for him was without precedentbecause in my presence using his mobile phone he calledhis (local) superiors to ask for instructions on how to proceed.The superior refused permission to leave me eitherthe original letter or a copy, saying that the SBU fears I“might publish it in the internet.” I questioned this entireprocedure and the need for secrecy and refused to look atthe letter and read its contents. The young official was disappointedand somewhat confused but did not exert additionalpressure and did not dispute my argumentation.Our conversation also had a pastoral moment. I cautionedthe agent of the fact that the SBU as the formerKGB, with many employees remaining from the Soviettimes, has a heavy legacy of breaking and crippling peoplephysically and morally and that he as a young married personshould be careful not to fall into any actions that wouldcause lasting damage to his own identity and shame hischildren and grandchildren. I sought to express this pastorallyas a priest. To his credit he both acknowledged thepast and declared his desire to serve the needs of Ukrainiancitizens. He also asked that I indicate to him if I feelthat he is exercising improper pressure.Finally, I expressed my and the general population’sprofound disappointment that the work of the SBU is souneven, that security and police officers live lavishly onNasha Doroha summer/2010 13