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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for |
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nearly 2,000 years, numbers approximately 300 million members |
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worldwide, with more than 2 million members in the United States; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1453, the continuing presence of the |
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Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey has been a living testament to |
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the religious coexistence of Christians and Muslims; and |
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WHEREAS, This religious coexistence is in doubt because the |
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Ecumenical Patriarchate is considered a minority religion by the |
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Turkish government; and |
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WHEREAS, There were millions of Orthodox Christians living in |
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Turkey at the turn of the 20th century, but there remain fewer than |
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3,000 in Turkey today; and |
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WHEREAS, Orthodox Christians in Texas and throughout the |
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United States stand to lose their spiritual leader; and |
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WHEREAS, While there have been difficulties in the past with |
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the relationship of the Orthodox Christian Church and the Turkish |
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government, certain recent actions by the Turkish government |
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suggest an interest in improving its relationship with and |
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treatment of the Orthodox Christian Church, and such actions are |
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acknowledged and welcomed; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Texas desire to encourage continued |
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dialogue and communication between the leadership of the Turkish |
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government and the Orthodox Christian Church, such as recent |
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high-level meetings between Turkish officials and the Ecumenical |
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Patriarchate; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby urge the government of Turkey to uphold and |
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safeguard religious and human rights of all its citizens without |
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compromise, to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate |
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international recognition, ecclesiastical succession, and the |
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right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the |
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property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and |
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all religious and faith traditions. |