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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 220 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 220

   Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the 
                        Ecumenical Patriarchate.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 2009

 Mr. Royce (for himself, Ms. Watson, and Mr. Bilirakis) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the 
                        Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Whereas the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the spiritual home of the world's oldest 
        and second largest Christian Church, adding to the rich cultural 
        tapestry of Istanbul, Turkey;
Whereas Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is one of the world's preeminent 
        spiritual leaders, representing approximately 300,000,000 Orthodox 
        Christians worldwide;
Whereas the United States Congress has bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on 
        Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew;
Whereas the entire world, other than Turkey, recognizes the Greek Orthodox 
        Patriarchate in Istanbul as the Ecumenical Patriarchate;
Whereas the 2,000-year-old Sacred See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will 
        disappear in the foreseeable future, unless Turkey changes its policies, 
        as there are less than 2,500 Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey, most of 
        whom are elderly;
Whereas the disappearance of the See would mean the end of a crucial link 
        between the Christian and the Muslim world since the continuing presence 
        of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey is a living testimony of 
        religious coexistence since 1453;
Whereas the Ecumenical Patriarchate has a record of reaching out and working for 
        peace and reconciliation amongst all faiths and has fostered dialogue 
        among Christians, Jews, and Muslims;
Whereas in 1993, the European Union defined the membership criteria for 
        accession to the European Union at the Copenhagen European Council, 
        obligating candidate countries to have achieved certain levels of 
        reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the 
        rule of law, and human rights, and respect for and protection of 
        minorities;
Whereas the Turkish Constitution secures religious rights for all Turkish 
        citizens;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has failed to recognize the Ecumenical 
        Patriarchate's international status;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has limited to Turkish nationals the candidates 
        available to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church for selection 
        as the Ecumenical Patriarchate and reneged on its agreement to reopen 
        the Theological School at Halki, thus impeding training for the Orthodox 
        clergy in Turkey; and
Whereas the Government of Turkey has confiscated without compensation 
        significant quantities of property belonging to the Ecumenical 
        Patriarchate properties and has punitively taxed the Balukili Hospital 
        of Istanbul, which is operated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on Turkey to pledge to uphold and safeguard 
        religious and human rights; and
            (2) calls on Turkey to eliminate all forms of 
        discrimination, particularly those based on race or religion, 
        and immediately--
                    (A) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate 
                international recognition and ecclesiastic succession;
                    (B) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate the right to 
                train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish 
                nationals; and
                    (C) respect the property rights of the Ecumenical 
                Patriarchate.
                                 <all>
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