CWN - The government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has threatened to terminate the registration that allows the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to operate legally in the Eastern European nation, according to a report from the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.

The ministry of culture cited “systematic disregard for the law by some priests” at the anti-government Euromaidan protests that began in November.

Although the Church does not take part in political events, it “cannot stay apart when faithful ask for spiritual care,” said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who leads the church, which is the largest of the Eastern Catholic churches.

“Our Church has always been true and will remain so for the future mission that Christ the Savior entrusted, despite all the threats,” he added. “We thought that the time of repression has passed, but letters like these give doubts. We are not ashamed of our presence on the Maidan and will remain there.”