Ukrainian Catholic Church Protests Casino Next to Cathedral

As reported by the Catholic News Service: "The Ukrainian Catholic Church has protested plans to open a casino next to its new cathedral in Kiev.

"Kiev City Council officials had allowed an investment company, Terra Capital, to buy the land adjoining the cathedral for the casino, said the church's press office. However, the transaction had been 'against legal procedure,' after a church request to build a secondary school on the same site had been ignored, it added.

"Cardinal Lubomyr Husar of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, said in a June 9 statement that the casino plan was "an offense against the religious feelings of believers," adding that the church school would better serve "the needs of the district."

"More than a thousand citizens from the Ukrainian capital signed a letter to the Kiev City Council asking it to reconsider its decision, the cardinal said..."

2006-06-19