Record #: R2013-484   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 5/8/2013 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 5/8/2013
Title: Call for Illinois General Assembly to adopt resolution urging Government of Turkey to cease religious discrimination against Ecumenical Patriarchate
Sponsors: Burke, Edward M.
Attachments: 1. R2013-484.pdf
RESOLUTION
 
 
WHEREAS, The Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is the Sacred See presiding over the self-governing churches of the Orthodox Christian world; and
 
WHEREAS, The Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for nearly two-thousand years, numbers approximately three-hundred million members world-wide, with more than six-million members in the United States and more than 1.5 million members in Illinois; and
 
WHEREAS, The See is led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who has worked tirelessly to promote peace, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue and understanding across the globe; and
 
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Turkish authorities have confiscated thousands of properties from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community; and
 
WHEREAS, Since the enforced closure of Halki School of Theology in 1971, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has experienced serious issues in training clergy to continue Orthodox ministries in Turkey; and
 
WHEREAS, The Turkish government requires that the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Hierarchs who vote for him must be Turkish citizens and the government arbitrarily can veto any candidate for the position of Ecumenical Patriarch; and
 
WHEREAS, Illinois Senate Resolution 70 calls upon the government of Turkey to "uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise, cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate"; now, therefore
 
 
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eighth day of May, 2013, do hereby urge the Illinois General Assembly to make Illinois the 43rd state of the United States to pass a resolution urging the government of Turkey to cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and allow the See to operate with greater religious freedom; and
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the leadership of the Illinois/General Assembly.
 
 
 
 
 
Alderman - 14th Ward