Bill Text: MN SR116 | 2017-2018 | 90th Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution expressing the sense of the Minnesota Senate urging the government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-18 - Referred to Rules and Administration [SR116 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2017-SR116-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2expressing the sense of the Minnesota Senate urging the government of Turkey to
1.3uphold and safeguard religious and human rights.
1.4WHEREAS, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who
1.5is the 269th in direct succession to the Apostle Andrew and holds titular title first among equals,
1.6in the community of Orthodox churches worldwide; and
1.7WHEREAS, in 1997, the Congress of the United States awarded Ecumenical Patriarch
1.8Bartholomew with the Congressional Gold Medal; and
1.9WHEREAS, the Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for nearly 2,000 years, numbers
1.10approximately 300 million members worldwide with more than two million members in the United
1.11States; and
1.12WHEREAS, since 1453, the continuing presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey
1.13has been a living testament to one worldwide faith; and
1.14WHEREAS, this religious coexistence is in jeopardy because the Ecumenical Patriarchate
1.15is being persecuted because of unfair, hostile actions by various factions within the Turkish
1.16government; and
1.17WHEREAS, the Turkish government's current treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is
1.18inconsistent with the membership conditions and goals of the European Union; and
1.19WHEREAS, Orthodox Christians in this State and throughout the United States stand to lose
1.20their spiritual leader because of the continued actions of the Turkish government; and
1.21WHEREAS, we rightly appreciate that the current Turkish government has made positive
1.22improvements in the last ten years in its relation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate with respect to the
1.23return of two significant properties formerly in dispute, with respect to allowing Orthodox clergy
1.24in lands outside Turkey to apply for and gain citizenship in Turkey to help ensure the possibility
2.1of patriarchal succession, and with respect to the physical security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
2.2in the recent uncovering and thwarting of a plotted assassination of Patriarch Bartholomew; and
2.3WHEREAS, we recognize that the current Turkish government has continued to negotiate
2.4and publicly address these and other related issues with a commitment to their resolution in a manner
2.5acceptable to all interested parties; and
2.6WHEREAS, Minnesota has a significant population of Greek Orthodox parishioners, with
2.7citizens in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.8BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that we urge the Government of
2.9Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise; cease its
2.10discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate
2.11international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, and the right to train clergy of all nationalities;
2.12and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
2.13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare a copy
2.14of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and that of the Chair of the Senate Rules and
2.15Administration Committee, and transmit it to Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago.
1.2expressing the sense of the Minnesota Senate urging the government of Turkey to
1.3uphold and safeguard religious and human rights.
1.4WHEREAS, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who
1.5is the 269th in direct succession to the Apostle Andrew and holds titular title first among equals,
1.6in the community of Orthodox churches worldwide; and
1.7WHEREAS, in 1997, the Congress of the United States awarded Ecumenical Patriarch
1.8Bartholomew with the Congressional Gold Medal; and
1.9WHEREAS, the Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for nearly 2,000 years, numbers
1.10approximately 300 million members worldwide with more than two million members in the United
1.11States; and
1.12WHEREAS, since 1453, the continuing presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey
1.13has been a living testament to one worldwide faith; and
1.14WHEREAS, this religious coexistence is in jeopardy because the Ecumenical Patriarchate
1.15is being persecuted because of unfair, hostile actions by various factions within the Turkish
1.16government; and
1.17WHEREAS, the Turkish government's current treatment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is
1.18inconsistent with the membership conditions and goals of the European Union; and
1.19WHEREAS, Orthodox Christians in this State and throughout the United States stand to lose
1.20their spiritual leader because of the continued actions of the Turkish government; and
1.21WHEREAS, we rightly appreciate that the current Turkish government has made positive
1.22improvements in the last ten years in its relation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate with respect to the
1.23return of two significant properties formerly in dispute, with respect to allowing Orthodox clergy
1.24in lands outside Turkey to apply for and gain citizenship in Turkey to help ensure the possibility
2.1of patriarchal succession, and with respect to the physical security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
2.2in the recent uncovering and thwarting of a plotted assassination of Patriarch Bartholomew; and
2.3WHEREAS, we recognize that the current Turkish government has continued to negotiate
2.4and publicly address these and other related issues with a commitment to their resolution in a manner
2.5acceptable to all interested parties; and
2.6WHEREAS, Minnesota has a significant population of Greek Orthodox parishioners, with
2.7citizens in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester; NOW, THEREFORE,
2.8BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that we urge the Government of
2.9Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise; cease its
2.10discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate
2.11international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, and the right to train clergy of all nationalities;
2.12and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
2.13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare a copy
2.14of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and that of the Chair of the Senate Rules and
2.15Administration Committee, and transmit it to Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago.
