Latest news with #InternationalReligiousFreedomSummit
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reporter's Notebook: Ukrainian spiritual leader says Russian Orthodox Church extension of Kremlin
As President Donald Trump's administration works toward a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine, the leaders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) are warning that Vladimir Putin's Russia believes it's actually fighting a "holy war" against the West. A delegation from the OCU was in the United States recently for the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. The group was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany, leader of Kyiv and all of Ukraine. His translator spoke to Fox News about the spiritual war raging between Russia and Ukraine, which has played a big role in why the battle began and continues to escalate. Head Of Eastern Orthodoxy Condemns Putin, Russian Invasion Of Ukraine His eminence Metropolitan Yevstratiy, the deputy head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's external church relations, says of Russia, "From the point of religious view, this is a liberation of Ukrainians from [the] Godless West, from the evil. And Russia brings to Ukraine the light and truth." Yevstratiy, and other church watchers like Catholic intellectual George Weigel, have accused the Russian Orthodox Church of being nothing more than an arm of the Kremlin, dressed in religious vestments but doing Putin's bidding. Read On The Fox News App Writing in the magazine First Things, Weigel noted "… Ukraine mounted and sustained a fierce resistance that denied Russia the quick victory Putin anticipated in February 2022, Russian justifications for the war began to take on a new coloration: The war was now a crusade in defense of Christian civilization." On Lighthouse Faith podcast, Yevstratiy recalled how at the start of the war, Moscow's Patriarch Kirill sermonized to Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine that if they die in battle they would immediately go to paradise… all sins forgiven. Even to an outsider looking at the complexity of Orthodox Christianity, that sounds more like 'Political Jihad' than the Gospel. In 2019, Ukraine's Orthodox Church was granted independence from the Russian Orthodox Church by the ecumenical patriarch in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). It caused an uproar in Moscow. Kirill and Putin refused to recognize the authority of Patriarch Bartholomew. 'Putin's Confessor' Named Bishop Of Annexed Ukrainian Territory Yevstratiy also revealed a scarier version of the war in Ukraine. He says Putin's ultimate goal is more than the reunification of the Soviet Union, or the defense of Christian civilization. It's actually more apocalyptic. He's focused on ushering in the third and final Rome.... in Moscow, which means, labeling the rest of Christianity, Catholics and Protestants alike... as heretics and pagans. Describing the inner workings of the Orthodox churches may seem a little like 'inside baseball'. But these are the oldest churches of Christianity. They emerged from the five ancient churches led by the apostles who knew Jesus personally. The apostle Andrew went to the east in Constantinople; Mark to Alexandria (Egypt); Peter to Antioch (Rome); James to Jerusalem, and Barnabas to Cyprus. From these men, along with the itinerant Apostle Paul, Christianity spread throughout the globe. So, this conflict between Russia and Ukraine has deep spiritual roots. And Putin knows it. Yestratiy and Epiphany were present at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. and heard President Trump declare his desire to be a peacemaker. Vestratiy said, "We pray and we ask God Almighty to bless this very good and Christian desire." Adding, "May God bless Ukraine. May God bless America." The full interview is on Lauren Green's Lighthouse Faith podcast, available on Apple, Spotify and article source: Reporter's Notebook: Ukrainian spiritual leader says Russian Orthodox Church extension of Kremlin
Fox News
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Christian faith and its remarkable depths displayed in new film 'The 21'
A heart-wrenching new film recounts the beheadings 10 years ago this week of 21 Coptic Christians at the hands of ISIS Islamic radicals. And yet the film, simply titled "The 21," also tells the poignant story of the martyrs' incredible faith, how they were diligent to the end — and never once denied their Savior even unto death. Producer Mandi Hart said, "I don't know that I'll ever get over imagining, in the course of 40-some-odd days of captivity, how many nanoseconds of opportunity they had to save their own lives. And to a man, all 21 of them were true to the end." Hart and the team at MORE Productions presented the 13-minute film at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., last week. It was a jolting reminder of how the events of Feb. 15, 2015, shocked the world — one, for the sheer horror of its staging, and two, because the Islamic radicals filmed the brutal slayings. As a way to soften the horror and enhance the spirit of hope, "The 21" tells the story through animation — intercut with actual ISIS propaganda footage. But it's the imagery of the animation that gives it greater impact. The animation is in the style of Orthodox iconography — the paintings of the saints and of Jesus that adorn the iconostas, the screens in front of the altar, on the nave, the sanctuary and the dome of every Orthodox church in the world. Hart said, "We knew that we wanted a project that would reflect the cultural distinctiveness of the Coptic tradition, particularly its iconography." She called out its "function," as well as its architecture and community — and "the symbolism, colors, shapes and the way that iconography was actually all about creating an icon." "The fact that all of them were true to the end is just remarkable." On a recent episode of "Lighthouse Faith" podcast, producer Mandi Hart spoke more about the making of "The 21" — and the transformative power of learning about what these men endured for their faith. They were simple laborers from Egypt, working in Libya, when ISIS members kidnapped them and demanded they denounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the only condition to secure their freedom. The men refused. For a month and a half, the men were tortured and abused. Then they were put in orange jumpsuits and paraded to a sandy hill where masked, knife-wielding radicals lined them up and took their lives. Hart said the most barbarous part of the story is actually not in the new film. "They were actually beheaded one by one," she said. "And ISIS did that, hoping that … being killed in that gruesome way would persuade at least one of the men to recant, to save themselves by denying Christ. And none of them did. And actually one of the men asked to be the last one." "It's one thing to talk about faithfulness. It's another to see it demonstrated in close up." Hart added with emotion, "There are no words [about] the depth of [their] faith. And it's been extremely challenging and convicting personally, too. I can't imagine myself in that position — and the fact that all of them were true to the end is just remarkable." Hart purposely did not view the ISIS footage of the beheadings. It was just too much to take. But director Tod Polson did. He told Fox News, "The original video made by ISIS is surreal. I've only seen it once but …[it is] forever burned into my memory. It's as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. Inspiring because the sacrifice of the martyrs is so total. It's one thing to talk about their faithfulness. It's another to see it demonstrated in close up." Polson also said, "Many of the martyrs' families play the original ISIS video in their homes on a loop. One of the complaints they have is that 'The 21' isn't violent enough. They want people outside their community to know what their men went through." ISIS filmed their abomination for the purpose of propaganda and power, believing they would usher in a new caliphate for the glory of Islam. But transcripts from interviews of ISIS members conducted by authorities revealed that there were other supernatural powers also at work on that sandy hill. This is new information. On that sandy beach a decade ago, those men may have witnessed God's holy army. Said Hart, "In the interviews with the former ISIS members, one in particular talks about earthquakes. He talks about shadowy figures being seen and some of the figures bearing swords, others dressed in certain ways accompanying the martyrs, particularly when the martyrs were on the beach." The film depicts those supernatural occurrences. The shadowy figures appear as angels of light, perhaps even Jesus Himself. On that sandy beach a decade ago, those men may have witnessed God's holy army and the forces of Satan in their ancient battle. And at least one member of ISIS was shaken to the core. Hart said one ISIS member was so terrified by what he saw that he fled. Reports are that he came to faith and was baptized. He remains in hiding, according to Hart. The larger story has been the display of the depths of faith of the entire Coptic community. "Coptic" means Egyptian. The Coptic are one of the original Christian Orthodox churches. For 2,000 years, they've been a persecuted church. For more Lifestyle articles, visit And some scholars, said Hart, think they've had millions of martyrs over the course of their history, past and present. The 21 martyrs asked that Jesus forgive their killers — just as Jesus said, while being crucified, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." At a time when it's more acceptable to publicly profane the name of Jesus than to praise Him, the film shows the power of that name — and how the men relied on it for strength, for hope. Hart reflected on the greater good that came out of such evil. She said the Coptic archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos, told her to think about when that former ISIS member who became a believer dies. Those 21 Coptic men will welcome him into heaven as their brother — as only in Christ can natural-born enemies become one people.
Fox News
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Reporter's Notebook: Ukrainian spiritual leader says Russian Orthodox Church extension of Kremlin
As President Donald Trump's administration works toward a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine, the leaders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) are warning that Vladimir Putin's Russia believes it's actually fighting a "holy war" against the West. A delegation from the OCU was in the United States recently for the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. The group was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany, leader of Kyiv and all of Ukraine. His translator spoke to Fox News about the spiritual war raging between Russia and Ukraine, which has played a big role in why the battle began and continues to escalate. His eminence Metropolitan Yevstratiy, the deputy head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's external church relations, says of Russia, "From the point of religious view, this is a liberation of Ukrainians from [the] Godless West, from the evil. And Russia brings to Ukraine the light and truth." Yevstratiy, and other church watchers like Catholic intellectual George Weigel, have accused the Russian Orthodox Church of being nothing more than an arm of the Kremlin, dressed in religious vestments but doing Putin's bidding. Writing in the magazine First Things, Weigel noted "… Ukraine mounted and sustained a fierce resistance that denied Russia the quick victory Putin anticipated in February 2022, Russian justifications for the war began to take on a new coloration: The war was now a crusade in defense of Christian civilization." On Lighthouse Faith podcast, Yevstratiy recalled how at the start of the war, Moscow's Patriarch Kirill sermonized to Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine that if they die in battle they would immediately go to paradise… all sins forgiven. Even to an outsider looking at the complexity of Orthodox Christianity, that sounds more like 'Political Jihad' than the Gospel. In 2019, Ukraine's Orthodox Church was granted independence from the Russian Orthodox Church by the ecumenical patriarch in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). It caused an uproar in Moscow. Kirill and Putin refused to recognize the authority of Patriarch Bartholomew. Yevstratiy also revealed a scarier version of the war in Ukraine. He says Putin's ultimate goal is more than the reunification of the Soviet Union, or the defense of Christian civilization. It's actually more apocalyptic. He's focused on ushering in the third and final Rome.... in Moscow, which means, labeling the rest of Christianity, Catholics and Protestants alike... as heretics and pagans. Describing the inner workings of the Orthodox churches may seem a little like 'inside baseball'. But these are the oldest churches of Christianity. They emerged from the five ancient churches led by the apostles who knew Jesus personally. The apostle Andrew went to the east in Constantinople; Mark to Alexandria (Egypt); Peter to Antioch (Rome); James to Jerusalem, and Barnabas to Cyprus. From these men, along with the itinerant Apostle Paul, Christianity spread throughout the globe. So, this conflict between Russia and Ukraine has deep spiritual roots. And Putin knows it. Yestratiy and Epiphany were present at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. and heard President Trump declare his desire to be a peacemaker. Vestratiy said, "We pray and we ask God Almighty to bless this very good and Christian desire." Adding, "May God bless Ukraine. May God bless America." The full interview is on Lauren Green's Lighthouse Faith podcast, available on Apple, Spotify and here.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad ‘corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Vice President JD Vance slammed U.S. bureaucracy that has "corrupted" aid programs to foreign nations amid the Trump administration's investigation into USAID waste, directing his ire at a recent revelation that the government had funded a program to promote atheism — or disbelief in God or gods — in Nepal. "In recent years, too often has our nation's international engagement on religious liberty issues been corrupted and distorted to the point of absurdity," Vance, who is Catholic, said at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "Think about it: How did America get to a point where we're sending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars abroad to NGOs that are dedicated to spreading atheism all over the globe? That is not what leadership on protecting the rights of the faithful looks like." Vance did not mention the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by name in his speech to the religious crowd and those working to advocate for religious liberty in the U.S. and around the world. The forum was held as USAID faces an apparent dismantling as Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pore over the agency's financial records to suss out government overspending and corruption. USAID's website was shut down in early February, replaced with a message on Tuesday evening outlining how "direct-hire personnel" will be placed on leave Friday, except those on "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." 'Sesame Street In Iraq': Usaid's 'Wasteful And Dangerous' Spending Exposed By Senator Read On The Fox News App Vance's comment focusing on nongovernmental organizations using taxpayer funds to promote atheism around the globe is likely referring to a $500,000 grant solicited by the State Department in 2021, under the Biden administration. The grant hit the nation's radar in 2024, when Republican House lawmakers sounded the alarm that the State Department was participating in a "pattern of obfuscation and denial" related to efforts to promote atheism on the world stage. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Brian Mast, R-Fla., wrote in a letter sent to then-State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma in May 2024: "We write to address what the Department has now acknowledged were its misrepresentations made to Congress about the scope and nature of programming that – for the first time in US diplomatic history – has sought to promote atheism overseas under the guise of 'religious freedom.'" The lawmakers were referring to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grant for $500,000, titled "Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals." Fox News Digital reviewed an archived web link for the grant on Thursday, which detailed that the U.S. was working to "support Religious Freedom globally," including to "combat discrimination, harassment and abuses against atheist, humanist, non-practicing and non-affiliated individuals of all religious communities." The State Department's announcement for the grant reads: "DRL's goal is to ensure everyone enjoys religious freedom, including the freedom to dissent from religious belief and to not practice or adhere to a religion. By not adhering to a predominant religious tradition, many individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, in civil and criminal proceedings, and other areas especially in the context of intersectional identities." The grant was awarded to Humanists International, a UK-based group that works to promote secularism and humanism, a philosophy that does not include a belief in God. The State Department's funding announcement opportunity detailed how the program was expected to increase "capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations." Feds Spent Millions Studying Trans Menstruation, Strengthening Gay Rights In The Balkans, Database Reveals Fox News Digital reached out to Humanists International on Thursday morning regarding the grant and Vance's comments but did not immediately receive a reply. Gop Hardliners Rally Around Trump, Musk Scaling Back Usaid "But this administration is intent on not just restoring, but on expanding the achievements of the first four years, and certainly in the last two weeks," he continued. "And in this short period, the president has issued orders to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans." "Pardon pro-life protesters who were unjustly imprisoned under the last administration," he said. "And importantly, stop the federal censorship used to prevent Americans from speaking their conscience and speaking their mind, whether it's in their communities or online." "Now, our administration believes we must stand for religious freedom, not just as a legal principle, as important as that is, but as a lived reality both within our own borders and especially outside," he continued. Flashback: Biden Admin Repeatedly Used Usaid To Push Abortion In Africa Vance's speech was followed by a virtual address from actor Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute in "The Office," to discuss his Baha'i faith and the persecution of fellow adherents in Iran. Government funding directed to left-wing initiatives through agencies such as USAID or the State Department has come under the microscope recently, as DOGE launched investigations to cut government fat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over as acting director of USAID on Monday, telling the media that the agency needs to fall in line with Trump's "America First" policies, which includes using taxpayer funds to strengthen U.S. communities rather than sending cash overseas. Democrats have seethed over DOGE's work, holding protests outside government offices in Washington, D.C., and across the country to declare that they will fight the efforts tooth and nail. Usaid Employee Says Staffers Hid Pride Flags, 'Incriminating' Books When Doge Arrived "What we are witnessing here is the biggest heist in American history," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said on Tuesday during one rally. "This is the most corrupt bargain we've ever seen in American history: Elon Musk gives $250 million to elect Donald Trump, and Donald Trump turns over the keys to United States government to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends and his cronies," Van Hollen continued in his remarks outside the Treasury Department. "We have to fight this in the courts, we have to fight this in the Congress, we have to fight this in the streets. We need to fight this all over America." Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., added, "Shut down the city! We are at war!" Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said during a news interview of DOGE's work at USAID, "The level of disrespect actually is criminal, because there are crisis-response teams that are around the world that really rely on having access to their emails – having access to apps that they can utilize if there's danger to them." Protesters have slammed Musk as a "fascist" who was not elected to federal office yet holds sway with the White House in his role at DOGE. Musk trolled Democrats and government employees amid the protests on Wednesday when he changed his X bio to state that he is working as "White House Tech Support" as his DOGE team reviews the federal government's various computer article source: 'Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad 'corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad ‘corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Vice President JD Vance slammed U.S. bureaucracy that has "corrupted" aid programs to foreign nations amid the Trump administration's investigation into USAID waste, directing his ire at a recent revelation that the government had funded a program to promote atheism — or disbelief in God or gods — in Nepal. "In recent years, too often has our nation's international engagement on religious liberty issues been corrupted and distorted to the point of absurdity," Vance, who is Catholic, said at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "Think about it: How did America get to a point where we're sending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars abroad to NGOs that are dedicated to spreading atheism all over the globe? That is not what leadership on protecting the rights of the faithful looks like." Vance did not mention the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by name in his speech to the religious crowd and those working to advocate for religious liberty in the U.S. and around the world. The forum was held as USAID faces an apparent dismantling as Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pore over the agency's financial records to suss out government overspending and corruption. USAID's website was shut down in early February, replaced with a message on Tuesday evening outlining how "direct-hire personnel" will be placed on leave Friday, except those on "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." 'Sesame Street In Iraq': Usaid's 'Wasteful And Dangerous' Spending Exposed By Senator Read On The Fox News App Vance's comment focusing on nongovernmental organizations using taxpayer funds to promote atheism around the globe is likely referring to a $500,000 grant solicited by the State Department in 2021, under the Biden administration. The grant hit the nation's radar in 2024, when Republican House lawmakers sounded the alarm that the State Department was participating in a "pattern of obfuscation and denial" related to efforts to promote atheism on the world stage. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Brian Mast, R-Fla., wrote in a letter sent to then-State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma in May 2024: "We write to address what the Department has now acknowledged were its misrepresentations made to Congress about the scope and nature of programming that – for the first time in US diplomatic history – has sought to promote atheism overseas under the guise of 'religious freedom.'" The lawmakers were referring to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grant for $500,000, titled "Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals." Fox News Digital reviewed an archived web link for the grant on Thursday, which detailed that the U.S. was working to "support Religious Freedom globally," including to "combat discrimination, harassment and abuses against atheist, humanist, non-practicing and non-affiliated individuals of all religious communities." The State Department's announcement for the grant reads: "DRL's goal is to ensure everyone enjoys religious freedom, including the freedom to dissent from religious belief and to not practice or adhere to a religion. By not adhering to a predominant religious tradition, many individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, in civil and criminal proceedings, and other areas especially in the context of intersectional identities." The grant was awarded to Humanists International, a UK-based group that works to promote secularism and humanism, a philosophy that does not include a belief in God. The State Department's funding announcement opportunity detailed how the program was expected to increase "capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations." Feds Spent Millions Studying Trans Menstruation, Strengthening Gay Rights In The Balkans, Database Reveals Fox News Digital reached out to Humanists International on Thursday morning regarding the grant and Vance's comments but did not immediately receive a reply. Gop Hardliners Rally Around Trump, Musk Scaling Back Usaid "But this administration is intent on not just restoring, but on expanding the achievements of the first four years, and certainly in the last two weeks," he continued. "And in this short period, the president has issued orders to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans." "Pardon pro-life protesters who were unjustly imprisoned under the last administration," he said. "And importantly, stop the federal censorship used to prevent Americans from speaking their conscience and speaking their mind, whether it's in their communities or online." "Now, our administration believes we must stand for religious freedom, not just as a legal principle, as important as that is, but as a lived reality both within our own borders and especially outside," he continued. Flashback: Biden Admin Repeatedly Used Usaid To Push Abortion In Africa Vance's speech was followed by a virtual address from actor Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute in "The Office," to discuss his Baha'i faith and the persecution of fellow adherents in Iran. Government funding directed to left-wing initiatives through agencies such as USAID or the State Department has come under the microscope recently, as DOGE launched investigations to cut government fat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over as acting director of USAID on Monday, telling the media that the agency needs to fall in line with Trump's "America First" policies, which includes using taxpayer funds to strengthen U.S. communities rather than sending cash overseas. Democrats have seethed over DOGE's work, holding protests outside government offices in Washington, D.C., and across the country to declare that they will fight the efforts tooth and nail. Usaid Employee Says Staffers Hid Pride Flags, 'Incriminating' Books When Doge Arrived "What we are witnessing here is the biggest heist in American history," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said on Tuesday during one rally. "This is the most corrupt bargain we've ever seen in American history: Elon Musk gives $250 million to elect Donald Trump, and Donald Trump turns over the keys to United States government to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends and his cronies," Van Hollen continued in his remarks outside the Treasury Department. "We have to fight this in the courts, we have to fight this in the Congress, we have to fight this in the streets. We need to fight this all over America." Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., added, "Shut down the city! We are at war!" Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said during a news interview of DOGE's work at USAID, "The level of disrespect actually is criminal, because there are crisis-response teams that are around the world that really rely on having access to their emails – having access to apps that they can utilize if there's danger to them." Protesters have slammed Musk as a "fascist" who was not elected to federal office yet holds sway with the White House in his role at DOGE. Musk trolled Democrats and government employees amid the protests on Wednesday when he changed his X bio to state that he is working as "White House Tech Support" as his DOGE team reviews the federal government's various computer article source: 'Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad 'corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
