U.S. Senator tells pranksters why persecuting the UOC is not advisable
U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Photo: video screenshot
Sam Brownback, US Senator and US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, in a conversation with a prankster who pretended to be the leader of "European Solidarity" Petro Poroshenko, discussed the Ukrainian church issue.
When asked by the prankster about the attitude of representatives of the Ukrainian administration, who came to the United States for the summit on international religious freedom, to the religious crisis, Sam Brownback replied that closing down churches would only worsen the situation.
They (representatives of the Ukrainian administration – Ed.) are concerned that "you are not doing something that spikes this concern, like closing down the Lavra or closing down churches affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate."
In Brownback's opinion, this only exacerbates the situation and gives Moscow a negotiating advantage and a firm argument that Ukraine is persecuting its believers.
Answering the question regarding the future fate of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the U.S. Ambassador said, "I'd push back and leave it open and watch it very carefully and closely. For this is the mother church of Orthodoxy. This is where it all started. And you will give a big momentum to the Russians if you shut it down. I would just watch it very closely, but I wouldn't shut it down."
In response to the objections from the prankster on behalf of Petro Poroshenko that UOC priests have ties to the ROC, Brownback warned him: "If they commit treasonous acts, they should be arrested." But then he corrected himself saying that he wouldn't arrest them just because they have this connection, without sufficient evidence.
"I think if you do that, you will give a religious momentum to Moscow <...> (to pursue this war against Ukraine – Ed)," he said.
As the UOJ reported, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom appealed to the OSCE over the situation with the UOC.
Read also
Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Trinity
Trinity Sunday is also known as the Birthday of the Church.
A quarter of a million Muslims celebrate Kurban Bayram on Moscow streets
In Saint Petersburg, more than 100,000 Muslims gathered for prayer.
Without UOC: DESS lists communities whose clergy to be exempted from service
The list of critically important religious organizations includes 7,726 legal entities. UOC communities are excluded.
Kyiv gays to hold LGBT event near the cathedral of OCU
Homosexuals reported that they would hold their event in the warm circle of like-minded individuals and allies.
Church commemorates Trinity Parental Saturday
On the eve of the Feast of the Holy Trinity, believers pray for their deceased ancestors on one of the most important memorial days in the church calendar.
In Jerusalem, Primate of ROCOR elevates new abbess of Ascension Convent
Mother Judith (Zastavskaya) has officially been appointed as Abbess of the Holy Ascension Convent of ROCOR on the Mount of Olives.