The visit by an Orthodox clergy delegation to Capitol Hill — hosted by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Eli Crane and Derrick Van Orden — created a rift within the GOP. Critics, including Sen. Chuck Grassley and pro-Ukraine lawmakers, say some visitors echoed Kremlin narratives and pointed to warnings about ROC-linked influence operations. Delegates pushed Congress to challenge Ukraine's Law 3894 and defend religious groups they say are persecuted. The dispute highlights tensions between concerns for religious freedom and fears of foreign influence tied to Russia.
GOP Split After Orthodox Clergy Visit Capitol Hill Amid Warnings Of Kremlin Influence
Adelegation of Orthodox Christian clergy and lay supporters met with three House Republicans on Capitol Hill this week, igniting a sharp debate within the GOP and among U.S. advocates for Ukraine. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) hosted the group during an advocacy day that included clergy with ties to multiple Orthodox jurisdictions, some of which critics say are aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
What Happened
The delegation urged lawmakers to press Kyiv to repeal Law 3894, legislation that restricts the Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) amid allegations of espionage, propaganda and collaboration with Russian forces. Delegates also accused Ukrainian authorities of persecuting religious groups tied to Moscow.
Who Was There
Organizers said the visitors included representatives from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, the Orthodox Church in America and other jurisdictions. Catherine Whiteford, a co-leader of the delegation and co-chair of the Young Republican National Federation, told reporters she acted in a personal capacity. Several lawmakers at the meetings included Reps. Luna, Crane and Van Orden.
Criticism From Colleagues And Ukraine Supporters
Other Republicans and pro-Ukraine advocates condemned the meetings, saying some clergy echoed Kremlin narratives and warning that the Russian state has used religious networks for influence operations. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) publicly criticized the visit on the Senate floor, saying representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were falsely claiming persecution by the Ukrainian government.
Sen. Chuck Grassley: Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church are on Capitol Hill this week falsely claiming persecution by the Ukrainian government.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) asked then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to review whether Russian influence or intelligence services have compromised ROC-affiliated institutions in the U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and pro-Ukraine groups also pushed back, accusing some visitors of repeating Kremlin talking points and pointing to cases of clergy charged with collaboration.
Defense And Concerns About Religious Freedom
Delegation leaders rejected allegations of Kremlin ties as defamatory and said their intent was to raise legitimate concerns about religious freedom in Ukraine. Catherine Whiteford said the group supports U.S. aid to Ukraine while urging that international human rights norms protect religious communities from state targeting, regardless of ecclesiastical affiliation.
Broader Context
Analysts and officials have long noted a close relationship between President Vladimir Putin and the Moscow patriarchate. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, language critics have described as providing a religious justification for war. In 2023 reporting, the FBI warned Orthodox clergy in the United States about recruitment efforts and influence operations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church. Observers, including researchers at the Institute for the Study of War, argue the UOC-MP functions in some cases as an instrument of Russian state influence.
Proponents of scrutiny point to multiple cases in which Ukrainian authorities charged UOC-MP clergy with spying or collaboration; defenders emphasize that international law prohibits targeting religious communities solely for their institutional ties and call for careful, evidence-based review.
Reactions And Next Steps
The delegation staged signs criticizing Rep. Joe Wilson and lobbied several congressional offices. Some offices confirmed meetings; others reportedly declined. Representatives Luna, Crane and Van Orden did not respond to requests for comment from reporters. The episode underscores a broader tension in U.S. politics between concern for religious freedom and concern about foreign influence operations tied to geopolitical conflict.
Note: Reporting and statements referenced in this article include public comments by senators and members of Congress, statements from delegation organizers, and reporting on FBI advisories and international responses to Ukraine's Law 3894.
