> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://uoj.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Sen. Grassley Dismisses Persecution of UOC as Russian Propaganda
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/85852-sen-grassley-dismisses-persecution-of-uoc-as-russian-propaganda/
- Published: 2025-12-17T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:13:21.000Z
- Description: The comments were made in response to the pan-Orthodox summit held yesterday at the U.S. Capitol.
- Author: News
- Tags: #Category: News, Persecution of the Church, UOC, Day of Action 2025, Chuck Grassley

**WASHINGTON, DC —** On December 16, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) [made a speech](https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/remarks/grassley-sets-the-record-straight-on-russias-persecution-of-christians-in-occupied-ukraine) from the floor of Congress about the recent pan-Orthodox summit organized by the Society of St. John.

Grassley described the attendees as "representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church," despite the fact that they were drawn from [half a dozen jurisdictions](https://uoj.news/news/85845-nearly-200-orthodox-christians-gather-in-dc-to-support-uoc/), including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

He accused the organizers of "falsely claiming persecution by the Ukrainian Government" on behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Senator did not provide any evidence to debunk the well-documented [instances of persecution](https://uoj.news/defending-faith/85651-the-new-mccarthyism/) of the UOC by the Ukrainian government.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2025/12/85852-sen-grassley-dismisses-persecution-of-uoc-as-russian-propaganda-image-8f4204a79933.jpg)On this topicROCOR Subdeacon Invites Rep. Joe Wilson to Divine Liturgy](https://uoj.news/news/85851-rocor-subdeacon-invites-rep-joe-wilson-to-divine-liturgy/)

He then pointed to Russian persecution of religious minorities in occupied Ukraine as evidence that the Zelenskyy administration is not persecuting the UOC.

The UOJ reached out to Sen. Grassley's press team, asking if it was possible that, in wartime, both sides may violate human rights. There has been no reply as of publication.

Three U.S. Representatives [attended](https://uoj.news/news/85850-us-reps-show-solidarity-with-plight-of-uoc/) the Society of St. John's summit earlier this week: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI).