EWTN News reports that Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, described the Russian missile strike on the 11th-century Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra as “certainly deliberate,” claiming Russia’s “true goal” is “a war on Christianity in Ukraine.” Moore stated that Russia has destroyed 750 churches and killed as many as 80 pastors and priests. The cathedral, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, caught fire on June 14 after a massive Russian attack. Moore accused the Kremlin of lying about the strike being an accident, stating “Putin is not making mistakes” and that “Putin is not going to stop this until someone makes him stop.” He also criticized European nations for continuing to purchase Russian fossil fuels, thereby funding the war, and called for the international community to cut off all financial ties with Russia. While the destruction of a place of worship is lamentable, the article’s framing and Moore’s analysis are deeply flawed from the perspective of integral Catholic faith, revealing a profound misunderstanding of the nature of true peace, the role of the Church, and the spiritual roots of the present global disorder.
The Bombing of the Dormition Cathedral: A Symptom of a World Without Christ the King
A Worldly Analysis of a Spiritual Catastrophe
The article, through Steven Moore’s commentary, presents a purely naturalistic and political interpretation of the conflict, reducing a complex spiritual and geopolitical crisis to a simple narrative of “Russian aggression” and “defense of Christianity.” This perspective, while emotionally compelling, entirely omits the supernatural dimension of the Church’s mission and the true source of peace. The focus is solely on material aid, military strength, and political pressure, reflecting the very “secularism” and “laicism” condemned by Pope Pius XI in Quas Primas. The article laments the destruction of a cathedral but fails to acknowledge that true peace, as Pope Pius XI unequivocally stated, “will not yet shine upon nations as long as individuals and states renounce and do not wish to recognize the reign of our Savior.” The conflict in Ukraine, like all wars, is a consequence of humanity’s collective rejection of Christ the King and His laws. To seek a solution solely through political maneuvering, military aid, or economic sanctions, without a fundamental return to the social reign of Christ, is to build on sand. As Pope Leo XIII taught, “The state is happy not by one means, and man by another; for the state is nothing else than a harmonious association of men” (Annum sanctum). A state not ordered according to God’s commandments, regardless of its military prowess or democratic veneer, remains profoundly unhappy and prone to conflict.
The Illusion of “Defending Christianity” Through War
Moore’s assertion that Russia’s “true goal” is “a war on Christianity in Ukraine” is a dangerous oversimplification that fuels a crusading mentality foreign to the true spirit of the Church. While the destruction of any place of worship is deplorable, the article’s narrative implicitly endorses the idea that military force is the primary or ultimate solution to defend the faith. This stands in stark contrast to the Church’s teaching on the primacy of spiritual means and the true nature of her warfare. The Church, as Pope Pius XI explained in Quas Primas, “is opposed only to the kingdom of Satan and the powers of darkness – and requires its followers not only to renounce earthly riches and possessions, to be distinguished by modesty of conduct, and to hunger and thirst for justice, but also to deny themselves and carry their cross.” The true battle is not fought with missiles and tanks, but with prayer, penance, and the unwavering proclamation of Catholic truth. To frame the conflict as a simple binary of “Christianity vs. Russia” ignores the profound spiritual decay within Ukraine itself, the rampant secularism, the influence of Freemasonry, and the ecumenical errors that have infected even those who profess Christ. The article’s call for “more aid to Ukraine” and to “stop fueling the Russian war machine” is a call for more worldly power, not for the conversion of hearts and nations to Christ the King. As St. Pius X warned in Lamentabili sane exitu, “The pursuit of novelty in the investigation of the foundations of things leads in our times to deplorable consequences, abandoning all restraint. It causes the heritage of humanity to be rejected, and often leads to the most grievous errors, which become particularly pernicious when they concern sacred sciences, the exposition of Holy Scripture, and the principal mysteries of Faith.” The modern world’s reliance on military and political solutions, even when cloaked in religious rhetoric, is a manifestation of this very error.
The Silence on Modernist Apostasy and the True Enemy
The most glaring omission in the article, and indeed in Moore’s analysis, is any mention of the true enemy of Christendom: Modernism. While Russia is rightly condemned for its actions, the article remains silent on the “enemies within” the Church, as St. Pius X so forcefully described them. The “bishops” and “priests” lamented in the article are likely, in many cases, modernist infiltrators who have diluted the faith, promoted ecumenism, and undermined the very foundations of Catholic doctrine. The destruction of a cathedral, while tragic, is a physical act of violence; the destruction of faith through heresy and apostasy is a far greater spiritual catastrophe. As Pope Pius IX declared in the Syllabus of Errors, “The Roman Pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself, and come to terms with progress, liberalism and modern civilization” (Proposition 80) is a condemned error. The modern world, including its political structures and media outlets like EWTN, often operates under this very delusion, seeking to reconcile the immutable truths of the Catholic faith with the ever-shifting sands of secular ideology. The article’s focus on “Russian propaganda” and “misinformation” within the “conservative ecosphere” is a distraction from the real propaganda: the modernist narrative that has infiltrated even those who claim to be Catholic. The true “war on Christianity” is not merely fought with missiles, but with the subtle erosion of dogma, the promotion of religious indifferentism, and the systematic dismantling of the Church’s authority. As Pope Pius IX stated, “The Church has not the power of defining dogmatically that the religion of the Catholic Church is the only true religion” (Proposition 21) is a condemned error. The ecumenical spirit, which often underlies calls for unity against a common external foe, is itself a fruit of Modernism and a betrayal of the Church’s exclusive claim to truth.
The Futility of Worldly Solutions Without Christ the King
Moore’s call for the international community to “cut off all financial ties with Russia” and his assertion that “Putin only understands strength” reflect a purely worldly understanding of power and peace. While economic pressure can be a tool, it is not the ultimate solution. True peace, as Pope Pius XI unequivocally stated, “is only possible in the kingdom of Christ.” The article’s reliance on political advocacy, military aid, and economic sanctions, without a single mention of the necessity of national conversion to the Catholic faith and the public acknowledgment of Christ’s reign, is a testament to the spiritual bankruptcy of modern geopolitical thought. The “international community” itself is largely composed of nations that have either explicitly rejected Christ the King or are steeped in religious indifferentism and secularism. To expect lasting peace from such a body, without a fundamental spiritual conversion, is an exercise in futility. As Pope Pius XI lamented, “When God and Jesus Christ – as we lamented – were removed from laws and states and when authority was derived not from God but but from men, the foundations of that authority were destroyed, because the main reason why some have the right to command and others have the duty to obey was removed. For this reason, the entire human society had to be shaken, because it lacked a stable and strong foundation” (Ubi arcano). The conflict in Ukraine is a direct consequence of this global rejection of Christ the King. The solution is not more weapons or tougher sanctions, but a return to the social reign of Christ, the establishment of His law as the foundation of all societies, and the recognition of the Catholic Church as the sole ark of salvation. Anything less is merely treating symptoms while ignoring the fatal disease.
The Dormition Cathedral: A Symbol of a Divided Christendom
While the destruction of the Dormition Cathedral is a tragedy, it is also a poignant symbol of a Christendom long divided and weakened by schism and heresy. The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is an Eastern Orthodox site, a testament to the Great Schism of 1054, which severed the Eastern churches from the unity of the Roman Pontiff. While the article mourns the loss of a “Christian” site, it fails to acknowledge that true Christian unity can only be achieved under the authority of the Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pope. The ecumenical movement, which often seeks to bridge these divides through dialogue and mutual recognition, is itself a modernist error condemned by Pope Pius XI in Mortalium Animos. The path to true unity is not through compromise or the blurring of doctrinal distinctions, but through the return of all separated brethren to the one true Church. The destruction of an Orthodox cathedral, while lamentable, should serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of schism and the urgent need for true Catholic unity, not a rallying cry for a false ecumenism that compromises the integrity of the faith. As Pope Pius IX declared, “Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church” (Proposition 18) is a condemned error. This applies equally to all forms of schism and heresy that deny the primacy of the Roman Pontiff and the infallible Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Conclusion: The Only True Peace
The bombing of the Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv is a tragic event, a stark reminder of the horrors of war and the fragility of human constructions, even those dedicated to God. However, the analysis presented by Steven Moore and reported by EWTN News is profoundly inadequate from the perspective of integral Catholic faith. It reduces a spiritual crisis to a political one, advocates for worldly solutions to spiritual problems, and remains silent on the true enemy of Christendom: Modernism and the rejection of Christ the King. The article’s call for military aid, economic sanctions, and political pressure, while understandable in the face of aggression, ultimately fails to address the root cause of all conflict: humanity’s collective sin and its refusal to submit to the divine law. As Pope Pius XI taught, “The state is happy not by one means, and man by another; for the state is nothing else than a harmonious association of men” (Annum sanctum). A state not ordered according to God’s commandments, regardless of its military prowess or democratic veneer, remains profoundly unhappy and prone to conflict. The only true peace, the only lasting solution to the world’s ills, is the recognition of Christ the King and His Church’s authority over all nations and all aspects of life. Until that day, the “peace” offered by the world will always be a fragile illusion, shattered by the next missile or the next act of aggression. The faithful must not be swayed by worldly narratives, but must cling to the immutable truths of the Catholic faith, knowing that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).
Source:
Ukraine advocate says cathedral bombing reflects broader campaign against Christianity (ewtnnews.com)
Date: 16.06.2026