Serbian priest blames Rep. Joe Wilson for slandering the Church

Reverend Protopresbyter Vasily Vranich. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Luke

On November 18, 2025, Protopresbyter Vasilije Vranic issued a sharp rebuke of Congressman Joe Wilson for his allegations of “foreign influence” on Orthodoxy in the United States, and likewise condemned a The Hill publication that echoed similar claims. UOJ in America reported the statement.

The priest, who serves at the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Luke and is the dean of Washington under Bishop Irinej, stressed that Wilson’s remarks and The Hill’s article distort the reality and create a false image of Orthodox clergy.

In a statement to UOJ in the USA, Fr. Vasilije said such assertions reveal “shocking ignorance” and a complete disregard for the “egregious violations of human rights and religious freedom in Ukraine” committed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to him, a "supposedly reputable news outlet, which The Hill purports to be, is publishing flagrant falsehoods."

He added that such publications mislead the public and create dangerous precedents in the public sphere. “I am very concerned about the future of our country if this continues without repercussions,” the priest emphasized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an American politician had criticized a congressman for discrediting hierarchs.

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