The Russian military-civilian administration in Ukraine’s occupied Zaporizhzhia region has announced a ban on the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus, along with other Catholic entities.
The Knights of Columbus, known for their extensive humanitarian efforts, have been specifically targeted by this ban.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Knights have provided significant aid to over 1.4 million Ukrainians, including distributing more than 7.3 million pounds of humanitarian supplies, 250,000 care packages, and 400 wheelchairs. Their work, however, is now halted due to accusations of association with “the intelligence services of the United States and the Vatican.”
This ban is part of a broader ban on religious and social organizations by the occupation authorities. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), along with several Caritas agencies, has also been prohibited. The UGCC faces allegations of storing “explosives and firearms in religious buildings,” participating in “mass riots and anti-Russian rallies,” and distributing “literature inciting violation of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.”
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, primate of the UGCC, expressed deep concern, stating, “our priests are being tortured without mercy.”
This ban represents a significant challenge to the Knights of Columbus and affiliated organizations, disrupting their humanitarian and religious work in a region deeply affected by conflict and occupation.
Pray for peace in Ukraine!
🙏
Photo credit: Nheyob via Wikimedia Commons
_-_stained-glass,_Knights_of_Columbus_emblem_of_the_order.jpg){kind=link}