The protection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was again discussed in the U.S. Congress

Important talks were held in the U.S. Congress to protect the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC): Katherine Whiteford, co-chair of the National Federation of Young Republicans USA and director of government relations for the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, met with U.S. House of Representatives member Riley Moore. The main topic of discussion was the ongoing persecution of Orthodox Christians and violations of the rights of the faithful of the canonical Church in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

As Katherine Whiteford reported in social network X, the meeting took place on December 19, 2025. The discussion focused on critical issues concerning the situation of the UOC, as well as the need to protect religious freedom for all believers.

Father Gabriel, rector of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, West Virginia, and Father Daniel, a UOC cleric who has lived in Ukraine for the past 13 years, also took part in the talks. According to Katherine Whiteford, the clergyman “was able to share first-hand testimonies of what he has seen on the ground,” providing meeting participants with first-hand data on the problems and challenges faced by the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Following the meeting, Catherine Whiteford thanked Congressman Moore for his attention to the situation of the UOC: “Thank you for taking the time to meet to discuss the ongoing persecution of Orthodox Christians. Religious freedom is not conditional.” She also emphasized that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the support of Pope Francis, as well as many Catholics who speak in its defense.

We will remind, on December 16, 2025 in Washington, near the White House, an action in defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place. During the event, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, vicar of the Western American diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), made a statement about the ongoing persecution of the UOC, calling on American lawmakers to pay attention to violations of religious freedom in Ukraine.