Canada Imposes Sanctions On The Head Of The Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016. L'Osservatore Romano.  

Orthodox Times: Canada has imposed sanctions on Patriarch of Moscow Kirill 

Canada has imposed sanctions on Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, as part of a series of measures the country took to target “agents of Russian disinformation and propaganda” over the invasion of Ukraine. 

These measures were immediately criticized by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who stated that “sanctions against the Patriarch would only be imposed by Satanists.” 

Patriarch Kirill has put the Church at the service of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he calls a “miracle” as he shares his vision of a conservative, sovereign Russia and supports the war in Ukraine. 

In addition to Canada, the United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on the 75-year-old Patriarch in June.  

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Update #1: Ottawa announces new sanctions on Russia but returns key turbine for Russian gas pipeline (CBC)  

Update #2: Canada targets oil and gas manufacturing in new Russian sanctions (CTV)  

WNU Editor: Governments sanctioning religious leaders is a pathway that I would never recommend. But Canada has made that decision, and for Canada's 800,000 Russian Orthodox Canadians (this blogger included), we are now facing collective punishment. I have to wonder what is next.