American politician Stefano Forte calls persecution of UOC unacceptable

On December 16, 2025, the President of the Young Republicans of New York, Stefano Forte, strongly condemned the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) by the Zelensky regime, calling such actions unacceptable. Forte called on Americans to unite and stop funding the persecution of Christians abroad.

As reported by the UOJ in the United States, Stefano Forte reminded that not only he, but also such influential institutions as the Church of England, the Pope, as well as Orthodox Christians around the world, agree that what is happening to the UOC is deeply wrong.

The politician expressed his deep concern about the situation, saying that «it is difficult to watch the clergy being imprisoned.» He also emphasized that it is unacceptable that American taxpayers’ money «is being used to persecute Christians in a foreign country,» considering it a direct contradiction to American values.

Stefano Forte called for public unity on this issue, emphasizing that the protection of religious freedoms should be a priority. «We must unite as Americans and say that the persecution of any Christians anywhere is wrong, and we will refuse to use our tax dollars for it,» he said. At the end of his speech, he called on all those present to oppose the persecution not only as Orthodox Christians but also as «good, God-fearing, decent people» in order to declare with one voice that such treatment of the UOC by the Zelensky regime is unacceptable.

Earlier, on December 16, 2025, U.S. Congressman Eli Crane from Arizona called for an end to the persecution of Christians and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Ukraine. According to the congressman, the country is showing disturbing authoritarian tendencies that are in sharp contrast to the fundamental principles of Western civilization and are of particular concern.