Ukrainian Catholic Church In America Weighs In On Crisis In The Eastern Ukraine
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The head of the Ukrainian Catholic church in America says he is worried about the the growing crisis in the Eastern Ukraine.
Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, who is based here in Philadelphia, says he fears the situation in the Ukraine may be on the verge of war.
Soroka, who spent the weekend in Rome attending the papal canonization ceremonies, says the Vatican and Pope Francis are working behind the scenes to try to diffuse the situation.
The archbishop, however, says he fears some world political leaders don't recognize the gravity of the situation and that Russia's totalitarian regime isn't likely to stop with the Ukraine.
Soroka says a passive world response could result in a new, Berlin-type wall separating the Baltic nations from the West:
"In effect, we're setting up a new wall. Maybe it won't be the cement-brick wall to be broken down but it would be a wall of political and economic intimidation."
Soroka is urging fellow Philadelphians to join him in prayer for the Ukrainian and Russian people and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.