We have been reading about the political persecution of the True Orthodox in Russia, where church buildings, icons, and relics have been confiscated and priests have been beaten by thugs supposedly working for the Russian government. Have police and governmental officials been openly persecuting the True Orthodox?
Here in North America, recently the federal government largely through the IRS has been secretly persecuting the various Christian churches. For example, in the past 10 to 15 years, outspoken Protestant pastors who dared to preach against politicians who embrace homosexuality have been having their tax exempt status taken away so that their congregations might be forced to sell their church because of the hefty property taxes. In Orthodoxy, most churches do not preach openly against homosexuality or abortion. However, some of the World Orthodox and the True Orthodox are paying property taxes so that they can continue to operate and preach openly. Others have been struggling to keep their buildings or they have been forced to downsize their church by buying a smaller one as Americans are earning less and paying more taxes. Those Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches who have a tax exemption might face persecution by the IRS.
Many of our smaller True Orthodox Churches are serving liturgies in homes to save money, but these home churches could be code violations. Here in Los Angeles, we are forbidden to have church services in homes by zoning regulations. In fact, neighbors have complained about Protestant home churches or home Bible studies by saying that there is not enough parking on the street to accommodate regular meetings in homes.
With Obamacare, the federal government wants the Roman Catholic Church to provide abortion and contraceptive services for their employees and also to provide these services in their Catholic hospitals. Contraceptives often cause abortions and birth defects, yet Christians must pay for contraceptives services in their insurance plans. However, Muslims and Christian Scientists can opt out of Obamacare. This is discrimination. These oppressive and discriminative rules are now being challenged in the courts by Catholic groups.
Also, the US Government is attempting to force our military chaplains (including the Orthodox) to perform same-sex marriages. Soon, there could be few military chaplains left in the USA or in Canada, where there is a similar law.
All these events have been on the news, so it is old news now, but I will provide links to these stories as I find them.