Ukrainian Catholicism in a Time of War and Ecclesial Debates

Authors

Valentyna Kuryliak Dr, Ukrainian Institute of Arts and SciencesFollow
Ivan Ostashchuk, Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences, Bucha, UkraineFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Valentyna Kuryliak: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5245-9700

Ivan Ostashchuk: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6115-0884

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the diverse responses of Ukrainian Catholics–encompassing both influential individual voices and official church structures to two key contemporary challenges: the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine and ongoing intra-church debates on issues of life, sexuality, and gender ideology. The analysis highlights inherent tensions and points of convergence between the universal teaching of the Catholic Church and the local experience of profound crisis. It demonstrates how believing communities navigate both external existential threats and internal doctrinal shifts, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary Catholic identity and mission in times of conflict.

Recommended Citation

Kuryliak, Valentyna Dr and Ostashchuk, Ivan (2025) "Ukrainian Catholicism in a Time of War and Ecclesial Debates," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 45 : Iss. 8 , Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2655
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol45/iss8/6