Leading Russian Orthodox official hopes Trump’s policies will help persecuted Christians
February 03, 2017
The head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations expressed hope that President Donald Trump would change American foreign policy in the Middle East, which he linked to the persecution of the region’s Christians.
“If Trump now says that America should defend its borders, not other [countries’ borders], it’s a totally conscious and well thought-out message,” Metropolitan Hilarion said in a television interview.
“If America stops introducing its policies in the Middle East like a bull in a china shop, then I hope that the genocide of Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities, which has continued in the Middle East for over ten years, will end,” he added, according to the Interfax news agency.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: bernie4871 -
Feb. 04, 2017 9:47 AM ET USA
Isn't that nice of him to offer such advice! Now how about Russian taking in some of the refugees? And who, for Heaven's sake, has been the bull in the China shop if not Russia - destroying peace, spreading violence, polluting thought, spreading error. killing millions.
-
Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Feb. 04, 2017 2:36 AM ET USA
You have to love it. In another article, Cardinal Nichols and the head of the Anglican ecclesial community blatantly call Trump a coward. But in this article a Russian prelate is more clear-eyed and not at all demeaning as he commends Trump's policies as "a totally conscious and well thought-out message." He further points out that U.S. policy in the Middle East has been reckless for the last decade, but that Trump should put an end to that. What a stark contrast with the Western frame of mind.
