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LEGISLATION SAFEGUARDING CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
http://www.archons.org/news/detail.asp?id=524
Dec 14 2011
The House of Representatives unanimously adopted via a voice vote, H.
Res. 306, urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian
heritage and to return confiscated church properties to their rightful
owners, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
"This bipartisan bill reflects America's values and represents
an important step towards preserving the heritage of the Armenian
community and other minority communities within Turkey," stated the
Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian in Washington, DC.
Prior to today's action, the Armenian Assembly sent a letter to
all Members of Congress urging a "YES" vote. H. Res. 306, which was
introduced by Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), along with Representatives
Howard Berman (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA),
Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Jim
McGovern (D-MA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Joe Baca (D-CA), David Cicilline
(D-RI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NJ), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA),
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Bruce
Braley (D-IA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis
(R-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Dan Lungren
(R-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Doug Lamborn
(R-CO), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), and Robert Dold
(R-IL), reflects America's values with respect to freedom of religion
and human rights.
In addition to resolution sponsor Congressman Royce, who along with his
colleagues invoked the memory of the Armenian Genocide and Turkey's
continued genocide denial, the following Representatives spoke in
favor of the legislation: Howard Berman, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman,
Eliot Engel and Frank Pallone, Jr. Turkish Caucus Co-Chair Edward
Whitfield (R-KY) claimed time in opposition to the bill.
As considered on the House floor, H. Res. 306 mirrors a bipartisan
amendment (Berman-Cicilline) that overwhelmingly passed in the House
Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 43-1 earlier this year. During
the committee process, the Assembly joined with the Eastern and Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in sending a letter to all
House Foreign Affairs Committee Members urging its adoption.
The legislation urges Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and
to return confiscated church properties by doing the following:
1) end all forms of religious discrimination;
2) allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and
administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social
services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm,
and other religious activities;
3) return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts; and
4) allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian
church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey.
"We commend this bipartisan measure in support of religious freedom
in Turkey," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "In
particular, we applaud the efforts of the resolution's sponsor and
supporters, especially those Members that spoke so eloquently on the
House floor," added Ardouny.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
[Source: Armenian Assembly of America]
Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
http://www.archons.org/news/detail.asp?id=524
Dec 14 2011
The House of Representatives unanimously adopted via a voice vote, H.
Res. 306, urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian
heritage and to return confiscated church properties to their rightful
owners, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
"This bipartisan bill reflects America's values and represents
an important step towards preserving the heritage of the Armenian
community and other minority communities within Turkey," stated the
Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian in Washington, DC.
Prior to today's action, the Armenian Assembly sent a letter to
all Members of Congress urging a "YES" vote. H. Res. 306, which was
introduced by Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), along with Representatives
Howard Berman (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA),
Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Jim
McGovern (D-MA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Joe Baca (D-CA), David Cicilline
(D-RI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NJ), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA),
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Bruce
Braley (D-IA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis
(R-FL), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Dan Lungren
(R-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Doug Lamborn
(R-CO), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), and Robert Dold
(R-IL), reflects America's values with respect to freedom of religion
and human rights.
In addition to resolution sponsor Congressman Royce, who along with his
colleagues invoked the memory of the Armenian Genocide and Turkey's
continued genocide denial, the following Representatives spoke in
favor of the legislation: Howard Berman, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman,
Eliot Engel and Frank Pallone, Jr. Turkish Caucus Co-Chair Edward
Whitfield (R-KY) claimed time in opposition to the bill.
As considered on the House floor, H. Res. 306 mirrors a bipartisan
amendment (Berman-Cicilline) that overwhelmingly passed in the House
Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 43-1 earlier this year. During
the committee process, the Assembly joined with the Eastern and Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in sending a letter to all
House Foreign Affairs Committee Members urging its adoption.
The legislation urges Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and
to return confiscated church properties by doing the following:
1) end all forms of religious discrimination;
2) allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and
administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social
services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm,
and other religious activities;
3) return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts; and
4) allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian
church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey.
"We commend this bipartisan measure in support of religious freedom
in Turkey," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "In
particular, we applaud the efforts of the resolution's sponsor and
supporters, especially those Members that spoke so eloquently on the
House floor," added Ardouny.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
[Source: Armenian Assembly of America]