Russian priests should stop blessing nukes - church proposal

FILE PHOTO: An Orthodox priest blesses Russian paratroopers marching during Paratroopers' Day celebrations, the annual holiday of Russian Airborne Troops, at their military unit in the southern city of Stavropol, Russia, August 2, 2017. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian priests should refrain from the practice of blessing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction that can inflict indiscriminate loss of life, according to new guidelines being discussed by the Russian Orthodox Church.

During two decades in power, President Vladimir Putin has aligned himself with the Orthodox Church, which has also developed closer ties with the ministry of defence.