Gura O. The Soviet state policy on communities and churches of religious minorities in the Ukraine during 19 44 - mid 1960s (illustrated by the Roman Catholic and Judaic communities)

The present work provides the results of the analysis of the Soviet State policy on communities and churches of religious minorities in Ukraine. The activity of both legal and illegal (unregistered) Cath olic and Judaic groups in the territory of the Soviet Ukraine during the above mentioned period is studied. The present work deals with the periods of state party policy as far as these unions are concerned. It is also prоved that the bodies of soviet power affected the state of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. It caused the religious unions, meeting houses and the clergy decline, and reflected on the level of their religious education. It is proved that there was neither considerable religiosity decline nor decline in people's support of religious institutions nevertheless. The candidate for degree emphasises the influence of foreign relations between the USSR and the Vatican City (Israel) and the state of Catholic and Judaic communities in Ukraine. The following statement is reasoned in the thesis: the state party policy towards these unions was pursued according to ideological principles of uncompromising, consistent, systematic and continuous fight against religion. The soviet state ignored the necessity of unified policy as to religion because of diff rent religious trends and a degree of resistance to eradication institutional religiosity. The soviet legislation about religious cults is analysed in the paper. The conclusion to made is that it was subordi nated to the tasks of the state party policy in the sphere of religion. During 1944 - mid 1960s no new basic law passed to reflect the changes of the political line in this area. The soviet legislation destroyed church organizations despite the fact it declared liberty of conscience and separation of the church from the state and had rather a liberal content. It 1ed to limitation of the activity of the Roman Catholic and Judaic unities depending on the political course chosen.