COMMUNITY: UNDER PRESSURE, MCCAIN SENDS LETTER TO BUSH ON THE PATRIARCHATE
Greek News
Tuesday, September 23 @ 17:17:45
New York
In soft language the Republican presidential candidate urges
U.S. President to address Ecumenical Patriarchate’s religious freedom
rights in Turkey Washington, D.C. By Apostolos Zoupaniotis Bowing
to pressure from major Greek American supporters of the Republican
Party, Senator John McCain has issued a letter to U.S. President
George W. Bush expressing his concern on the religious freedom
issues affecting the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In particular, Senator
McCain cites the refusal of the Turkish government to recognize
the "ecumenical" status of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew, and also their denial to reopen the Orthodox Theological
Seminary of Halki.
It is not known if McCain – who is considered a Pentagonist and a
supporter of Turkey, but not Greece – will issue a statement covering
all the issues that concern the Greek American Community. The Obama
campaign will issue such a statement soon.
The letter was sent to President Bush on August 27, but the
announcement was not made until late last Friday, just three days
before a major fundraising of Greek Americans for Obama in Chicago,
during which the Democratic presidential candidate was expected
to promise the community leaders to work towards a solution of the
Cyprus problem, and support the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as the
Greek positions in the dispute with FYROM over the name issue. The
event is expected to raise about one million dollars and is closed
to the press..
In his letter, Senator McCain says, "As Americans, I know we share
a deep respect for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and for the
Greek Orthodox community worldwide… The Ecumenical Patriarchate,
the spiritual home to more than 250 million Orthodox Christians living
and worshiping throughout the world, stands as a stirring testament to
the power of faith in the global community… It is in our interest
to work collectively with the Turkish government and our European
allies to pursue a course of action that will protect the rights of
the Ecumenical Patriarchate and prevent a religious tragedy."
Last June, during a meeting with Archbishop Demetrios of America,
Senator McCain failed to explain why he was one of only 16 senators
that didnʼt cosign the letter to Bush and to clarify if he will do
so in the future.
In a statement, Archonʼs National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis
said, "As an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and as a citizen
of this great nation, I am encouraged to see that both presidential
candidates, Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, have taken
strong positions advocating religious freedom for the Ecumenical
Patriarchate. The Archons of America will continue to fight for
religious freedom on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Whether
it is in the Congressional Chambers in Washington, or ministerial
offices in Ankara, or the offices of parliamentarians, commissioners,
and justices of the European Union. We will never quit fighting for
religious freedom until we hear the bells of freedom emanating from
the Phanar."
STATE DEPARTMENT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The US government criticized
Turkey on Friday, in the International Religious Freedom Report that
was released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
"The authorities continued to monitor the activities of Eastern
Orthodox churches but generally did not interfere with their religious
activities; however, significant restrictions were placed on the
administration of the churches. The Government does not recognize the
ecumenical status of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, acknowledging him
only as the head of the country’s Greek Orthodox community. High-level
government leaders often asserted publicly that use of the term
"ecumenical" in reference to the Patriarch violates the 1923 Lausanne
Treaty. Nonetheless, government officials privately acknowledged that
Lausanne does not address the issue."
On the Seminary of Halki it states: "The Ecumenical Patriarchate in
Istanbul continued to seek to reopen the Halki seminary on the island
of Heybeli in the Sea of Marmara. The seminary was closed in 1971
after the Patriarchate chose not to comply with a state requirement
to nationalize in order to avoid being administered by the state. The
Government nationalized all other private institutions of higher
learning in an attempt to control countrywide rioting. Despite
positive public declarations, AKP officials have reportedly not
responded to formal communications from the Greek Orthodox Church
regarding the reopening of Halki Seminary or to resolution of other
concerns affecting the Ecumenical Patriarchate.".
On the property issues it says: "On November 27, 2007, the ECHR heard
the claim of the 2005 Ecumenical Patriarchate’s appeal with the ECHR
concerning the GDF’s expropriation of the Buyukada Orphanage on the
Prince’s Islands that had belonged to the Patriarchate. The ECHR had
yet to announce a decision by the end of the reporting period.
Minority religious groups, particularly the Greek and Armenian Orthodox
communities, have lost numerous properties to the state in the past
and continued to fight ongoing efforts by the state to expropriate
properties. In many cases, the Government has taken control of minority
foundations and expropriated associated properties on the grounds that
the foundations are not operating in accordance with their charters
or that the non-Muslim communities they support have insufficient
populations to sustain the foundations. Such expropriations are
frequently appealed to the Danistay and, if unsuccessful there, to the
ECHR. In July 2007 the country fulfilled its obligation concerning
a January 2007 ECHR ruling in favor of the Fener Greek Boys High
School Foundation by paying the foundation $1,390,000 (ï~_~B890,000)
in compensation for properties that had been expropriated and sold
to third parties. Many religious minorities experienced problems
operating places of worship due to laws governing foundations."
In a press briefing, responding to a question by Greek News Washington
correspondent, Lambros Papandoniou, the State Departmentʼs coordinator
Ambassador Hanford said that US have raised and continue to raise
these issues with the Turkish government.
"I have personally raised them with the ambassador to Turkey. Our
embassy continues to urge the government of Turkey to address these
issues, to permit the opening of the Chalki Seminary, to further
expand religious freedom in general. And, as I think you know,
President Bush has raised this with Prime Minister Erdogan."
THE FULL TEXT
Dear Mr. President I am writing to express concern regarding the
current situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,
located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual
home to more than 250 million Orthodox Christians living and worshiping
throughout the world, stands as a stirring testament to the power of
faith in the global community.
Many have spoken out in recent years over actions of the government of
Turkey against the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including its decision not
to recognize the ecumenical status of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and
its refusal to reopen the Halki Seminary. I too share many of these
concerns and believe that the United States must stand in favor of
basic religious rights and freedoms.
The United States and Turkey share an important strategic partnership
based on many shared interests and principles. It is important that
allies speak candidly not only on issues of agreement, but also
on areas of concern. In discussions with the Turkish government,
the United States must voice our strong support for the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and continue our unequivocal advocacy for the preservation
and protection of fundamental human rights, religious liberty, and
social justice.
As Americans, I know we share a deep respect for the Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew and for the Greek Orthodox community
worldwide. It is in our interest to work collectively with the Turkish
government and our European allies to pursue a course of action that
will protect the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and prevent
a religious tragedy.
Sincerely, John McCain United States Senator
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