The Problem of Moral Authority and Progress in Nation Life according to Bishop Hryhoriy Khomyshyn’s Letter Ukrainian Problem: Historic Context and Philosophical Connotations

The article considers Bishop Hryhoriy Khomyshyn’s conception of moral authority and its role in preserving and developing the Ukrainian nation as expressed in his pastoral letter “Ukrainian problem”. The author analyzes distinctive features of Bishop Khomyshyn’s teaching about the Catholic Church’s cogent social authority and his comments concerning the concept of progress as dignifying the human spirit. H. Khomyshyn’s ambitions to realize his creeds were examined in the context of his “occidental” and clerical beliefs, his actual position towards the danger of Polonization, friction within the Greek-Catholic hierarchy, social reaction to Bishop’s proposals and Polish politics in Galicia. The author reveals the communitarianism dilemma to be a common motive in H. Khomyshyn’s enterprises.