American blogger: The persecution of the UOC causes a radical rejection of Ukraine among a significant part of Americans

Many Americans, especially those of the Orthodox faith, are radically opposed to Ukraine, while the majority of Orthodox Christians in the United States support Russia. The reason for this attitude is the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) by the Kiev authorities. This was stated by American blogger and public figure of the Orthodox faith Conrad Frantz, estimating the share of such Americans in 40%. This is reported by RIA Novosti.

According to Conrad Frantz, the actions of the Ukrainian government with regard to the UOC cause deep indignation. He emphasized that «the overwhelming majority of Orthodox people in America support Russia because of what the Ukrainian government is doing to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.» He estimated that up to 40% of Americans are «definitely against Ukraine in this war.»

Frantz’s statements came amid ongoing legal proceedings concerning the UOC. Earlier, lawyer Nikita Chekman, representing the interests of the UOC, said that the court hearing on the lawsuit to liquidate the Kiev Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was postponed. The new date for consideration of the case is October 30.

The lawsuit to terminate the activities of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC, headed by Metropolitan Onufryy (Berezovsky) of Kyiv and All Ukraine, was filed by the head of the Ukrainian State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky on September 2. This situation is one of the key factors shaping negative attitudes toward Ukraine among a significant part of American society, according to Conrad Franz.