Russia and Pope Francis object to Ukraine outlawing the Ukraine Orthodox Church
St Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine
(Photo by Paweł ‘pbm’ Szubert)
The government of Ukraine took another step to last week to diminish religious rights in that country.
Its move has been condemned by Russia:
Kremlin Calls Ukrainian Ban on Branch of Orthodox Church an Attack on Freedom of Religion
August 27, 2024
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia on Tuesday condemned a move by Ukraine to ban a Moscow-linked branch of the Orthodox Church, describing it as an attack on Christianity and a blow to freedom of religion.
Ukrainian lawmakers voted last week to ban the Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which Kyiv has accused of abetting Moscow’s 30-month-old war by spreading pro-Russian propaganda and harbouring spies.
“The Kyiv regime, unfortunately, continues to show its true nature. This is an open attack on freedom of religion, an attack on the Orthodox Church as a whole, and an attack on Christianity,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians but the faith is split between the UOC and an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, recognised by the world Orthodox hierarchy since 2019.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has hailed last week’s vote as a step to strengthen Ukraine’s “spiritual independence” and signed it into law. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-08-27/kremlin-calls-ukrainian-ban-on-branch-of-orthodox-church-an-attack-on-freedom-of-religion
Banning what has been the most popular church in Ukraine is not supporting personal “spiritual independence,” but shows governmental control over religion.
But attempting to control religion in Ukraine is not new with this legislation (see ‘Ukrainian parliament votes again to ban Russian Orthodox Church’).
Pope Francis also spoke out against this move by the government of Ukraine:
Pope Francis on Ukraine’s Russian Orthodox Church ban: ‘Churches are not to be touched!’
August 26, 2024
Pope Francis on Sunday sharply denounced the Ukrainian government’s recently enacted ban on Russian Orthodox Church worship, arguing that the faithful should not be barred from worshipping as they please.
The new Ukrainian law, which passed the country’s Parliament on Aug. 20, bans the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukrainian territory. The measure comes roughly two-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the two countries’ ongoing conflict.
The new law further encourages religious organizations in Ukraine, including the Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox Church, “to break the existing ties with the Russian state,” according to the parliamentary news agency.
In his Angelus address on Sunday, the Holy Father said he has been “thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine,” which he said causes him to “fear for the freedom of those who pray.”
“[T]hose who truly pray always pray for all,” the pope said. “A person does not commit evil because of praying. If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty for it, but he cannot have committed evil because he prayed.”
“So let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church. Please, let no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly,” Francis said.
“Churches are not to be touched!” he added. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258917/pope-francis-on-ukraines-russian-orthodox-church-ban-churches-are-not-to-be-touched
Despite his views, churches are being touched.
This month there have also been disturbing moves against churches in Burundi, Nicaragua, and Rwanda. Related to that, here is our latest uploaded video:
Are we seeing new forms of religious persecution popping up? Did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on August 24, 2024 banning the Orthodox Church in Ukraine? Did Rwanda recently shut down over 5,100 churches, including house churches? Was this really about safety or perhaps also politics? Did Rwandan President Paul Kagame state that he is considering implementing a tax on church donations? Did the Nicaraguan government under its President Daniel Noriega change laws on August 22, 204 that could allow it to impose taxes of up to 30 percent of a church’s annual income? Did the Nicaraguan government recently shut does 1,500 non-governmental organizations, including 678 religious associations? Is Burundi causing issues for the churches of God because of some of its rules? Did Jesus prophesy about persecution? Will some Christians be beheaded and others burned according to biblical, as well as Greco-Roman, prophecies? Is economic 666 persecution also prophesied? What should the faithful do? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.
Here is a link to our video: New Religious Persecution.
Sadly, the trend from certain governments is not good.
Jesus warned of persecutions:
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. (John 15:20)
On a more positive note, Jesus also said:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Furthermore, Jesus additionally said:
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. (Matthew 10:23)
We see that persecution is prophesied and sometimes Christians will have to flee geographically because of it.
That said, what we are now seeing in the world will pale in comparison to the persecution that is coming.
4 And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:4-8).
Not worshiping the Beast will be a cause of persecution.
Pray to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Prophecies Showing Persecution of Sabbath Keepers Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution?
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? What about modern censoring, censorship, and shadow banning? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? A video of related interest is titled: The Past and Future Inquisition.
Blessing of Children or Infant Baptism? Which does the Bible endorse? Two videos of related interest are available: Infant Baptism Scripture and History and The Blessing of Little Children Ceremony.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also watch YouTube video sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, Why Teach the Kingdom of God, The Gospel of the Kingdom, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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