Catholic patriarch condemns deadly violence in Ukraine :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

One of the two tent chapels in Independence Square, keeping the peace and hope alive
(Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need)

Kiev, Ukraine, Feb 20, 2014 / 03:24 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Ukrainian Greek Catholic patriarch decried the deadly conflict between the government and protesters, calling for prayer and fasting amid increasing tensions.

Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk on Feb. 20 said the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church condemns “all incitements to violence, because they are contrary to God’s law and to the truths of the Gospel.”

“No one can make decisions about sacrificing human lives,” he said, according to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s website.

He also expressed the Church’s desire to be “builders of peace,” rejecting the armed struggle and urging the condemnation of those who shoot unarmed civilians.

Violence continued between Ukraine’s government and protesters in the national capital of Kiev.

At least 21 protesters were killed Feb. 20, according to the BBC. CNN said that protesters’ medical officials claimed that more than 100 people died in Thursday’s fighting. Another 28 people died in clashes on Feb. 18.

The Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders had agreed on a truce on Wednesday.

Protesters in Kiev’s Independence Square have thrown rocks and firebombs at police. At least one protester fired a shotgun in the direction of police lines, CNN reports. The government has accused protesters of killing one police officer and taking about 70 other officers hostage.

Government security forces have been accused of shooting protesters with automatic weapons and at least one sniper rifle. One doctor told CNN she had treated 13 people she believes were targeted by professional snipers, on the grounds that the shots directly targeted victims’ hearts, brains and necks.

CNN video recorded a medic working to help an injured man being wounded by gunfire.

The Medical University of Lublin in Poland has given medical care to 85 victims of the violence, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church reports.

Read reports in full here:
Catholic patriarch condemns deadly violence in Ukraine :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)