Destro in US Congress condemns silence on UOC persecution
Robert Destro. Photo: X Robert Amsterdam
On June 4, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Destro spoke at hearings in Congress and in his speech condemned the hypocrisy of official Washington regarding the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the authorities, reports the UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam on his X account.
"We say we are for religious freedom, but we are for the deconstruction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Destro addressed the congressmen. "We, you, know that the Ukrainian authorities are arresting priests and nuns. You know how it looks – they fund Greek Orthodox newspapers but are silent about Ukrainian ones. The organization of Ukrainian journalists, Orthodox journalists, nothing is said about them."
The former assistant secretary stated that such hypocrisy is unacceptable and shameful.
As reported, Robert Destro, who served as Assistant Secretary of State from 2017-2021 and is a key member of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's team, spoke out against the collective responsibility of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's parishioners.
Read also
HCHC Community Holds All-Night Vigil Honoring Philoptochos Society and Its Patron Saints
Special prayers offered for members of the National Board and all Philoptochos chapters in gratitude for their decades of support.
Georgian Church Resumes Construction After Miracle
The foundation of a church was blessed at Georgia's Oncology Center — construction resumes on the Church of Ss. Panteleimon the Healer and John the Baptist.
BREAKING: Met. Arseny Hospitalized After Falling Ill During Court Hearing
Faithful urged to pray as proceedings in Sviatohirsk hierarch’s case continue daily.
Pat. Bartholomew: It Is a ‘Grave Sin’ To Put Politics Before Church Unity
"Those who jeopardize this unity in the name of geopolitical expediencies and base motives for acquiring earthly power—falsely cloaked in spirituality—commit an offense before God and a grave sin," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
OCA Chancellor Visits Romania and Czech Lands and Slovakia
Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino represents Met. Tikhon at major church events and meetings with hierarchs of sister Churches.
Procession Held in Honor of St. Gabriel of Georgia
On Nov. 1, clergy, Mother Paraskeva, and Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian faithful took part in a procession from the house of St. Gabriel the Confessor and Fool-for-Christ to the Samtavro Monastery.