UGCC priest says rejecting large families makes soldiers’ deaths in vain
A priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lviv stated that if Ukrainian women refuse to have large families, other nations will eventually populate the country.
Father Dmytro Romanko, a priest of a Lviv parish of the UGCC, declared that the refusal of Ukrainians to have three or more children renders the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers meaningless.
“Refusing to have three or more children makes the deaths of our soldiers in vain. For why give one’s life for a country that will, in any case, be inhabited by other nations?” he wrote on the social network Threads.
The statement, made by the Greek Catholic priest who describes himself online as a “relationship designer,” provoked a storm of comments. Many users accused him of manipulation and inappropriate moralizing.
“No one strengthens atheism as effectively as priests like this,” wrote Katia Blestka. Her comment received fifteen times more likes than Romanko’s original post.
Another user, Olena Tymoshenko, responded: “Mr. Dmytro, with all respect – which commandment says this? You’re a priest, not a sociologist or gynecologist. My husband and I are ready to have three children if you guarantee the financial support for them and for my maternity leave with three kids. Very unfortunate communication with your own people.”
A user under the name Dr. Onyshchuk also expressed indignation: “Our soldiers die for freedom, life, and the future of Ukraine – not for the number of children born. Your words demean the memory of both the fallen and the living.”
The day before, Romanko had published another post comparing men who evade mobilization with women who have left Ukraine.
Father Dmytro Romanko serves as the spiritual advisor of the youth movement True Love Waits. He is married and has four children.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to former Minister of Economy Tymofiy Mylovanov, Ukraine may soon import around 10 million migrants, while the native Ukrainian population could shrink to 10–15 million.
