www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Two Greek Catholic priests arrested by Russians

As there has been this weird refrain about Putin being a defender of Christianity (although I disagree with him on other things, I think Fr. Charron is 100% right about Putin), I thought it would be good to share this. From RISU. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)
Two Greek Catholic priests arrested...hange lists, but so far without success [risu.ua]

I have to say that this paragraph caught my eye:

Both priests appear to be under investigation on Russian criminal charges related to weapons and explosives the Russian occupation forces claim to have found in Berdyansk's Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, where Fr Ivan and Fr Bohdan serve, when occupation forces seized the priests in November 2022. The claims were also broadcast on Russian occupation media channels, along with claims that allegedly "extremist" literature had been found in the Church.

Having posted this, let me say that I am initially taking this with a grain of salt (or two or three). Politics and lying seem to go hand in hand, and unfortunately, sometimes those in the Christian faith get caught up in the lies for "the good of the country" or some other nonsense like that, rather than sticking with the Gospel.

It will remain to be seen just who is telling the truth here.

Good news both priests have been released in a POW swap with the Russians.

Christ is in our midst!!

Pavel Ivanovich--Happy Birthday.

Bob
Moderator

Dear Edward,

With the priests now released - you can probably contact them and ask them if they were lying.

I can't believe those on this board who want give anything Russia says any credence or place it on a morally equal scale with those that Russia attacks and kills.

Incomprehensible!

Orthodox Catholic, knowing how Russia has historically treated Greek Catholics, and knowing people that actually live in Ukraine, I have NO DOUBT they were telling the truth. Russia has pretty extreme censorship, and no religious freedom. You can't even use your VPN or criticize the government. It is, for all intents and purposes, still stuck in the USSR. Russia had to lie about a country with a Jewish president, being full of Nazis, to justify a war.
That's not Christian, that's the work of Satan, yet I hear people constantly tell me how Russia is a conservative, Christian country. It gets annoying, for those of us that have been paying attention since the theft of Crimea in 2014.

Unless one is directly involved and personally engaged in the war effort in Ukraine-Russia, then I think it is safe to presume that none of us truly knows what is occurring. Fog of war, misinformation, and partisanship will cloud the truth.

May God bring this nightmare to an end.