Is Religious Liberty 'Under Attack' in Ukraine?

"Kyiv, Ukraine -- Opponents of U.S. aid to Ukraine claim the country persecutes Christians.

  "When American leaders frame this as a war for democracy and human rights, it would be good if the recipient of the aid was a little bit more careful of human rights, including religious liberties," Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) says in an interview this week. Ukraine "is doing some pretty bad stuff," he adds, citing "news reports of priests being investigated, church assets being seized and priests being arrested."

Ukrainians have "invaded churches, they've arrested priests," according to Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.). Rep. Paul Gosar (R., Ariz.) says Kyiv has " banned Ukraine's oldest and largest denomination, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church." Tucker Carlson last year said President Volodymyr Zelensky "banned a Christian faith in his country and arrested nuns and priests." In a Republican presidential debate, Vivek Ramaswamy said: "Do you want to use U.S. taxpayer money to fund the banning of Christians? That is actually what's happening."

Steven Moore, a former Capitol Hill staffer and now president of the Kyiv-based Ukraine Freedom Project, visited some 100 GOP congressional offices between September and January. About a third "said they're concerned about Zelensky persecuting Ukrainian Christians," he says."

This activity doesn't stop at Ukraine's borders. People supporting Mr. Zelensky attacked Pope for expressing essential for every Catholic conviction that we have to seek peace negotiation, we have to stop Mr. Zelensky's cruel attempts to proceed testing Western new weapons until the last Ukrainian is deceased.

1. Is Religious Liberty 'Under Attack' in Ukraine? Melchior, Jillian Kay.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 23 Mar 2024: A.11.