CNA Staff, Sep 30, 2020 / 11:03 am
The Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev on Tuesday denied reports from Russia's foreign intelligence agency that the Church in Belarus is being used by the US, calling them "complete nonsense, fake information."
"Some media outlets published information provided by the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service Sergey Naryshkin. This is a fake, this is nonsense. He spoke about some provocations, about the fact that the United States, the CIA and other organizations are trying to use the Catholic Church to undermine the state system in our country. This is complete nonsense, fake information, lies that have nothing to do with the truth … This is information that should be treated with a touch of irony," Bishop Yury Kasabutski said during his homily at a Sept. 29 Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Minsk.
Naryshkin is director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. The Russian news agency Interfax reported Sept. 29 that Naryshkin had said, "the United States is also unceremoniously interfering in the religious situation in Belarus … The clergy of the Roman Catholic Church are being asked to openly criticize the Belarusian authorities and to use religious events, including sermons, prayers, religious processions, to conduct opposition political propaganda among believers."
The Russian foreign intelligence director added that "According to the plan of the Americans, this should force Minsk to take harsh retaliatory measures against the Roman Catholic Church."