Catherine Whiteford discusses defense of UOC with Congressman Riley Moore

Participants in the meeting devoted to issues of protecting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and freedom of religion. Photo: Catherine Whiteford’s X account

On December 19, 2025, Catherine Whiteford, co-chair of the National Federation of Young Republicans of the United States and Director of Government Relations for the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, reported on a meeting with U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, during which issues related to the protection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were discussed.

According to Whiteford’s post on the social network X, the conversation focused on the ongoing persecution of Orthodox Christians and violations of the rights of believers of the canonical Church amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The meeting was also attended by Fr. Gabriel, abbot of the Holy Cross Monastery in the city of Wayne, West Virginia, as well as Fr. Daniel, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who lived in Ukraine for the past 13 years. According to Catherine Whiteford, the priest “was able to share first-hand testimony of what he witnessed on the ground,” speaking about the situation of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the challenges they face.

“We’re grateful for Congressman Moore’s strong leadership on religious freedom and his faithful witness as a devout Catholic,” Whiteford wrote.

In her post, she also thanked Congressman Moore for his attention to the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and noted the support expressed for the UOC by Pope Francis, as well as by Catholics who have spoken out in defense of the Church.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a lobbyist for the Ukrainian authorities in the United States claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are destroying UOC churches.

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