IV 

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; 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 220 IH 

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 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 220 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on Turkey to pledge to uphold and 

3 safeguard religious and human rights; and 

4 (2) calls on Turkey to eliminate all forms of 

5 discrimination, particularly those based on race or 

6 religion, and immediately— 

7 (A) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate ap8 propriate international recognition and eccle9 siastic succession; 

10 (B) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate the 

11 right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just 

12 Turkish nationals; and 

13 (C) respect the property rights of the Ecu14 menical Patriarchate. 

Æ 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS