Victor Krushenitsky, religious liberty leader for Euro-Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists, was formally recognized for his contribution to advancing the cause of religious freedom during a ceremony held in the United States Senate Caucus Room April 2
Victor Krushenitsky, religious liberty leader for Euro-Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists, was formally recognized for his contribution to advancing the cause of religious freedom during a ceremony held in the United States Senate Caucus Room April 2. The event was organized by Liberty Magazine and the International Religious Liberty Association in cooperation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Krushenitsky was one of several recipients of special awards recognizing religious liberty champions and activists, among them U.S. Congressman Christopher Smith, Idaho State Senator Grant Ipsen, and radio host and long-time religious liberty activist Dr. Adrian Westney. In addition, Lee Boothby, Gerald Chipeur, Lewis Stout, Arthur E. Morgan, Daniel C. Robles, Robert McCumber, Ronald Flowers and Penny Ancel were recognized for their outstanding contribution to defending religious freedom.
In attendance at the event were members of the U.S. Congress, representatives from the U.S. Departments of Justice and State, members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, representatives from the Commission for Security & Cooperation in Europe, Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders, and more than 30 ambassadors from nations as diverse as the Ukraine, Laos, Senegal and New Zealand. John Hanford, United States Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, gave the evening’s keynote address.
Hanford said that religious freedom is a universal ideal, and “it is, in fact, a moral obligation, which calls us to a task greater than our own enjoyment of [religious liberty].” He also commended the Adventist Church’s continuous emphasis of religious liberty. “When many religious freedom organizations measure their years in single digits, the International Religious Liberty Association has been operating for 110 years,” Ambassador Hanford said.
The United States Senate Caucus Room where the ceremony occurred, has been the scene of many historical events. Hearings on the sinking of the Titanic were held in the Caucus Room, as were the Watergate hearings. The room was the location in which John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for U.S. President. Dr. Clarence Hodges, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Adventist Church in North America, comments that “with its marble pillars, gilded ceiling and rich carpet, the room provided a fitting setting for a ceremony honoring those who have labored to protect our oldest and most precious freedom.”
Dr. John Graz, secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association and director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Adventist world church, stated that “we are delighted we could recognize the contributions of these leaders. They are individuals who have dedicated themselves to the frontline of struggle to advance the cause of freedom.”
“This is the first time we have organized an event quite like this on Capitol Hill,” said James Standish, who represents the Adventist Church to the U.S. government. “We wanted to bring people together from the U.S. government, the international community, and representatives from diverse faith communities to recognize the importance of religious freedom and to discuss current domestic and international challenges to that freedom. Our goal is to build a shared commitment to eliminating all forms of religious persecution and discrimination.”
“The event highlighted our ongoing commitment to encouraging religious freedom,” added Lincoln Steed, editor of Liberty magazine. “In a time of war and growing religious intolerance, we need to make sure that the voice of religious freedom is heard.”
