Volodymyr Zelensky has banned all Russian influence from Ukraine, including the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. Zelensky may thought he had found an ally in the Catholic Church after meeting Pope Francis who shared sentiments about ending the war, but the pope is now condemning Zelensky for persecuting Christians.
“Please, let no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches are not to be touched!” the pope declared, adding that “a person does not commit evil by praying.” A day prior to the pope’s comments, Zelensky banished ALL churches affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Well over 1,000 places of worship must close for no reason other than having ties to Russia. Ukrainian lawmakers were eager to pass the bill in a 265-20 vote on August 20. Some organizations will have nine months to prove they are not influenced by Moscow or make an overt display to severe all ties with Russia before they’re forced to evacuate Ukraine.
Persecuting specific religious groups never ends well. These churches represent strong communities and shared values among Ukrainian people who have committed no crime other than worshipping God in a way not seen fit by the federal overlord. Churches act to help communities and provide much more than mere places of worship; Ukraine certainly needs all the help it can muster right now.
Zelensky can banish churches and even the language but he cannot escape that his people often share the same blood with their Russian neighbors. Russia and Ukraine are forever linked and the Russian influence cannot be removed from history.
Leaders do not need to place such harsh restrictions on the population if they feel they are in control. Zelensky sees that the people are absolutely fed up with his corrupt government. They watch their men and boys go off to war, never to return. The war seemingly has no end in sight and the people initially agreed to the Minsk Agreement which could have prevented this entire mess to begin with.
“In thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for all,” Francis said after the prayer service. Pope Francis has reason to fear for anyone in Ukraine with ties to Russia, which amounts to a good portion of the population. The government is cracking down on this demographic and anyone who might show sympathy for Russia and/or distaste for the war effort.
