The Church "has a moral obligation to ensure that the country does not go back to the Soviet era," he said. CNEWA (Catholic Near East WelfareAssociation) is active in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East.

Referring to photos of Ukrainian Catholic monks and priests standing in between protestors and government security forces, Hétu said "the Church ministers to the protestors so they protest without violence, but with respect and ask also for the leadership, the government, to do the same."

Hétu  said it is important for Canadians to remain attentive to the situation and encourage the Canadian government to continue its pressure on the Ukrainian government.

"When the eyes of the world turn to a government, the Ukrainian government will be less tempted to be too harsh on its people."

The current situation is reminiscent "to the old Soviet era," when the Greek Catholic and other churches were suppressed in Ukraine," Hétu said. "That did not stop the protestors. That did not stop the Church."

"That's why the government has to back down and talk to the people," Hétu said. "It will turn ugly if they do not. The people are not scared any more and they want to be listened to."

He noted when he was in Ukraine in August, he found that at any time of day people — "mainly young people under 30 years old" — would be inside churches praying.

"They are proud of who they are," he said. "The Church has been holding the Ukrainians together for centuries."

CNEWA has two levels of involvement, Hétu said. The first is help the Church provide social services, including humanitarian support to the poor, the elderly and children, particularly orphans, street children and those with special needs. The second is to "fortify the Church" through catechesis programs, priest training and participating in Greek Catholic Church's ministries that work in jails, the military and among youth, Hétu said.

Hétu was last in Ukraine in August to celebrate the dedication of Resurrection Cathedral of the Greek Catholic Church. "At that time there was a movement of happiness and affirmation," he said. "It was clear the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church are very trusted organizations."

However, it also became clear that the people "had lost their trust in their politicians mainly because of corruption." But in August, no one would have predicted the street demonstrations and violent crackdown of recent weeks, he said.

The Ukrainian government decision to turn towards Russia "got people so angry it created a movement of protest that could not be stopped," said Hétu. "It's as if the unhappiness, rage, disappointment and mistrust all poured out all at the same time. The people are demanding a sense of respect, a sense of dignity but more so to be listened to."

"The government was taken by surprise and has not responded well to that," he said. "They made all kind of threats, and passed anti-protestor laws. They told the Greek catholic church that if they would be seen as protesting or ministering to protestors, they would lose license to practice."