According to Russian propaganda, Ukraine’s restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which takes orders from the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, are religious persecution.
But the Russian Orthodox Church is less a church than another branch of Vladimir Putin’s fascist government. Its leader Patriarch Kiril, whom Pope Francis once referred to as “Putin’s altar boy,” has staunchly backed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine since 2014 and claimed that Russian soldiers killed in battle will be cleansed of sin, a disturbing echo of ISIS rhetoric.
Several Russian Orthodox Church priests have been persecuted for praying for peace instead of victory, while some of their Ukrainian counterparts in the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church have collaborated with the occupiers. Though most ordinary Ukrainian Orthodox Church priests and believers oppose Putin and Kiril, Ukraine understandably doesn’t want its invader wielding spiritual influence over its people.
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Meanwhile, Russia systematically persecutes religious believers on occupied Ukrainian territory. The invaders have harassed, imprisoned and forcibly converted hundreds of believers belonging to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is completely independent of the Moscow patriarchate.
Protestants make up just four percent of Ukraine’s population but are disproportionately targeted by the Russians.
An evangelical pastor in Luhansk was imprisoned for 25 days, subjected to beatings, electric shocks and an exorcism by a Russian Orthodox priest. A Pentecostal pastor in Kherson was abducted and murdered with his teenage son after being told that his faith is affiliated with America and has no right to exist.
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Russia cannot claim to uphold Christian values while kidnapping children and persecuting believers.
The Ukrainian people are still fighting for a democratic, pluralistic society where everyone is free to speak and worship without fear.
Americans have always steadfastly supported religious freedom, which is just one of the many reasons we should support Ukraine.
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