'Russia uses religious sentiments to support political crusades' Religion in the Russia-Ukraine war

Russian Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has spoken of Russia's opponents as 'evil forces,' portraying Ukraine as a nation succumbing to 'sinful Western practices,' such as gay pride parades. The church's close ties to the Kremlin have been essential to getting the public to rally behind the war effort, says DW's religious affairs analyst Martin Gak.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, some 30 million orthodox Christians are split between a self-governing church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which is part of the Moscow Patriarchate. But since the invasion, the rival leaders have been united in their condemnation of Russia.

Ukraine is also home to 4.5 million catholics, who are looking to the head of their church to wage peace. A Vatican official has said Pope Francis would be willing to facilitate dialogue in the Ukraine conflict. But while the pontiff has called it a 'war which sows death, destruction and misery' - he has neither named Vladimir Putin as the aggressor, nor appealed to Kirill to intervene on the side of peace.

#Russia #Ukriane #Religion

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[serred]

Manipulating religion to achieve political ambition. A classic story as old as the history of humanity itself.

[vinm]

Kitill was a KGB informer.
After the collapse of the USSR, records were released which showed
Kirill informed on his fellow clerics.
Rolex watch wearing Kirill currently has his office in the Kremlin.

[louishurr]

Krill is not the “head of the Orthodox Church”. He is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. This distinction is very important.

[robertruggiero]

The capacity of religious leaders to disappoint “their flock” knows no bounds

[guydreamr]

When religion is made an instrument of the state it ultimately works to the discredit of both.

[femagallanes]

"You cannot serve two masters at the same time..." Religion and Politics cannot be mixed...

[jasperzanjani]

this should come as no surprise to anyone who understands how closely controlled the Orthodox Church was during the Soviet era, even all the way back to Byzantium

[MarkConwayTheBurgerKing]

In a Free Democracy, Church and state exist as independent and seperate.
A position of the church in conflict/ war should be
Promoting Peace and Neutrality.
Not siding or favouring one human against another

[gianna]

Imagine that a man that is supposed to represent God and the church agreeing with killing innocent people sickening !

[Dadflinn]

It takes someone truly evil to use faith as an excuse to kill innocent people….

[asiaexpat]

Those that see religion as salvation in war will be sadly disappointed if they survive.

[ronniefradejas]

Using the name of God in order to wage war against another nation is totally inconsistent about God's commandment of love.
Love your enemies, love your neighbors, love your wife, love your children.

[Roosternurse]

No true religious leader who believes in Christ, would ever promote this, , it’s not my place to judge this religious leader, but I assure you, one day he will sit before the judgement seat of Christ and have to answer for everything.

[anthonywhelan]

My old Irish father (RIP), a devout Catholic all his life, said that the Catholic bishops had too much power in Ireland. He stated that all state religions were wrong because it corrupted the leadership and turned them into demigods. He said it didn't matter what the religion was. Ditto for the Church of England, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism etc.

[BOABModels]

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"

Who said that? I wonder if Kirill knows.

[Lepocoloco]

I think Father Kirill got himself a new BMW and promised not to be shot.

[machtschnell]

Now we are certain the Russian Orthodox church has no connection to any God nor to humanity.

[Dovietail]

When religious leaders make political decisions over spiritual ones, people turn away from God.

[alexanderdantonio]

And this is why we must always keep separation of church and state when it comes to politics. One tends to corrupt the other til it mutates into a quasi-religious illiberal mess.

[SN-szkw]

Of course he does. But ahem, Russian Orthodoxy began in Kiev. Doubt the Ukrainian faithful give a FF about the Kremlin Patriarch’s opinions. 😂🇺🇦 Slava Ukraini!