2011
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 11-1014
       
       
       BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Court, Kefalas, Stephens, Conti,
       Coram, Fields, Gardner D., Massey, Miklosi, Murray, Schafer S.,
       Swalm, Acree, Barker, Baumgardner, Becker, Beezley, Bradford,
       Brown, Casso, DelGrosso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fischer, Gardner B.,
       Gerou, Hamner, Holbert, Jones, Joshi, Kerr A., Kerr J., Labuda,
       Lee, Levy, Liston, Looper, McCann, Nikkel, Pabon, Pace, Peniston,
       Priola, Ramirez, Riesberg, Ryden, Scott, Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper,
       Swerdfeger, Szabo, Todd, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil, Waller, Williams A.,
       Wilson, McNulty;
       also SENATOR(S) Foster, Spence, Aguilar, Boyd, Brophy, Cadman,
       Carroll, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Hudak,
       Jahn, Johnston, King S., Lambert, Lundberg, Mitchell, Morse,
       Newell, Nicholson, Renfroe, Roberts, Scheffel, Schwartz, Shaffer B.,
       Steadman, Tochtrop, White, Williams S..
       
       
          CONCERNING URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY
       TO UPHOLD AND SAFEGUARD RELIGIOUS AND HUMAN
       RIGHTS WITHOUT COMPROMISE. 
       
       
          WHEREAS, The Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for nearly
       2,000 years, numbers approximately 300 million members worldwide
       with more than 2 million members in the United States; and
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
          WHEREAS, Since 1453, the continuing presence of the Ecumenical
       Patriarchate in Turkey has been a living testament to the religious
       coexistence of Christians and Muslims; and
       
          WHEREAS, This religious coexistence is in doubt because the 
       Ecumenical Patriarchate is considered a minority religion by the Turkish
       government; and
          WHEREAS, There were millions of Orthodox Christians living in
       Turkey at the turn of the 20th century and there remain fewer than 3,000
       of the Ecumenical Patriarch's flock in Turkey today; and 
       
          WHEREAS, Orthodox Christians in Colorado and throughout the
       United States stand to lose their spiritual leader; and
       
          WHEREAS, Where there have been difficulties in the past with the
       relationship of the Orthodox Christian Church and the Turkish
       government, certain recent actions by the Turkish government suggest an
       interest in improving its relationship with and treatment of the Orthodox
       Christian Church, which actions are acknowledged and welcomed; and 
       
          WHEREAS, The people of Colorado desire to encourage the
       continued dialogue and communication of the leadership of the Turkish
       government and the Orthodox Christian Church, as demonstrated by
       recent high-level meetings between Turkish officials and the Ecumenical
       Patriarchate; now, therefore,
       
          Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-eighth
       General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
       
          That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, urge the
       government of Turkey to:
       
          (1)  Uphold and safeguard religious and human rights of all its citizens
       without compromise;
       
          
       
       
       
       
       
          (2)  Grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate international
       recognition, ecclesiastical succession, and the right to train clergy of all
       nationalities; and
       
          (3)  Respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical
       Patriarchate and all religious and faith traditions.
       
          Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to
       the President of the United States, the United States Ambassador to the
       Republic of Turkey, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the
       United States, and to each member of the Colorado Congressional
       delegation.
       
       
       
       
       
       _________________________________________________________
       Frank McNulty                    Brandon C. Shaffer 
       SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                    PRESIDENT OF
       OF REPRESENTATIVES                        THE SENATE
       
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Marilyn Eddins                        Cindi Markwell
       CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                SECRETARY OF
       OF REPRESENTATIVES                        THE SENATE