Archbishop Demetrios to Receive Legislative Letters Calling for Religious Freedom in Turkey

Archbishop Demetrios to Receive Legislative Letters Calling for Religious Freedom in Turkey

(Order of St. Andrew)--All 62 members of the New York State Senate and 144 members of the New York State Assembly signed letters calling for the Turkish Government to cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Holy See for millions of Orthodox Christians in the United States and around the world. Similar to 43 religious freedom resolutions passed in 37 states, the NY effort was led by Senators Dean Skelos and Michael Gianaris and Assemblywomen Aravella Simotas and Nicole Malliotakis. All four legislators are expected to be in attendance to present the letters to Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and spiritual leader of more than 2.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians in the US. Also expected to attend are representatives of the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other dignitaries on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 3pm at the Archdiocese headquarters in Manhattan.

Background:

The National Council of the Order of St. Andrew initiated in 2006 the Religious Freedom Resolutions project. The goal of this project, which represents one component of the overall, multi-faceted Religious Freedom Initiative, is the adoption of religious freedom resolutions in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in every state legislature. To date, 43 such resolutions have been adopted by 37 states, representing 83.5% of the United States population.This project is an ongoing effort of the Order of Saint Andrew and represents an important part of the governmental and public affairs strategy of the Religious Freedom Initiative. Stephen Georgeson serves as the national coordinator for the state resolutions project. He can be contacted at spgeorgeson@yahoo.com and urges Orthodox faithful to learn what actions can be taken to protect our Mother Church and religious freedom. For more information, visit the website of the Archons at http://www.archons.org/takeaction .

U.S. Map of States Resolutions Project

States highlighted in LIGHT BLUE indicate that the resolution has been introduced.
States highlighted in GOLD indicate final adoption and no further action is necessary.
States highlighted in DARK BLUE indicate no resolution has been introduced at this time.
[Ed: NH resolution introduction pending, 17 May 2011]

U.S. State Resolution Status and Primary Sponsors

	*Alabama* SJR 73 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by House and Senate on 5/2007 Sen. Jabo Waggoner			*Nebraska* LR 273 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced 1/6/2010 Adopted on 4/13/2010 Sen. Gwen Howard

	*Alaska* SJR 28 - Read the Resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/18/2010 Adopted by Senate 4/5/2010 Adopted by House 4/11/2010 Senator Kevin Meyer HR 15 - Introduced on 2/23/2010 Adoption Pending Rep. Bob Lynn Rep. John Harris			*Nevada* ACR 31 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Assembly and Senate on 5/6/2009 Assemblyman James Ohrenschall Sen. William Raggio

	*Arizona* HCM 2009 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 1/17/2008 Adopted by House 3/18/2008 Adopted by Senate 5/22/2008 Rep. Mark Anderson			*New Hampshire* No resolution has been introduced at this time. [Ed: resolution introduction pending, 17 May 2011]

	*Arkansas* SCR 3 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 1/22/2009 Adopted by Senate on 2/18/09 Adopted by House 3/12/2009 Senator David Johnson			*New Jersey* SJR 11 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate and House 6/2006 Sen. Bob Smith Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, Jr.

	*California* SJR 17 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 9/10/2007 Adopted by Senate 2/28/2008 Sen. Elaine Kontominas Alquist Adopted by Assembly 8/30/2008			*New Mexico* HM 39 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/2/2010 Adopted by House 2/13/2010 Rep. Al Park

	*Colorado* HJR 1014 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by House and Senate on 4/7/2011 Rep. Lois Court Rep. John Kefalas Senator Joyce Foster Senator Nancy Spence			*New York* Read the Assembly resolution [PDF] Read the Senate resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate and House 4/1/2011 Senator Dean Skelos Senator Michael Gianaris Assemblywomen Aravella Simotas and Nicole Malliotakis

	*Connecticut* Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted on 4/30/2010 Rep. Demetrios Giannaros Rep. Themis Klarides Rep. John C. Geragosian			*North Carolina* Letter of Resolution [PDF] Adopted on 6/28/2010 Sen. Bob Rucho

	*Delaware* HR 9 - Introduced on 3/10/2009 Adopted on 3/19/2009 Rep. Nick Manolakos			*North Dakota* SCR 4014 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 1/26/2011 Adopted on 3/24/2011 Senator Tim Mathern Rep. Andy Maragos

	*Florida* HM 191 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/2/2010 Adopted on 4/23/2010 Rep. Peter Nehr SM 314 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/1/2010 Adopted on 4/28/2010 Senator Mike Fasano			*Ohio* SCR 3 - Introduced on 2/1/2011 Adoption Pending Senator Joe Schiavoni

	*Georgia* HR 415 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by House 4/2007 Rep. Mike Cheokas SR 1038 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/27/2008 Adopted by Senate 3/6/2008 Sen. David Adelman			*Oklahoma* SR 54 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/19/2008 Adopted on 3/24/2008

	*Hawaii* SCR 57 and SR 31 - Introduced on 3/4/2011 Adoption Pending Sen. Carol Fukunaga			*Oregon* SJR 16 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 5/4/2009 Adopted by Senate on 5/6/2009 Adopted by House on 6/1/2009 Sen. Rod Monroe, Sen. Bruce Starr, and Sen. Richard Devlin

	*Idaho* No resolution has been introduced at this time.			*Pennsylvania* HR 876 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by House 11/2006 Rep. Timothy Solobay SR 188 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 10/24/2007 Adopted by Senate 3/10/2008 Sen. Barry Stout

	*Illinois* HR 666 - Read the resolution [PDF] Gubenatorial Resolution [PDF] Introduced on 8/10/2007 Adopted on 10/4/2007 Rep. Sandra Pihos Rep. Elizabeth Coulson SR 100 - Introduced on 2/25/2009 Adoption Pending Senator Antonio Munoz			*Rhode Island* SR 895 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate 3/2007 Sen. Lou Raptakis

	*Indiana* SR 4 - Introduced on 1/5/2011 Adoption Pending Senator Lonnie Randolph			*South Carolina* HR 4727 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/20/2008 Adopted by House on 4/9/2008 Rep. Leonidas Stavrinakis SR 735 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate 5/2007 Sen. Phil Leventis

	*Iowa* HR 27 - Introduced on 3/12/2009 Adopted on 3/23/2009 Rep. Wayne Ford Rep. Pat Murphy			*South Dakota* No resolution has been introduced at this time.

	*Kansas* SR 1807 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 1/6/2011 Adopted by Senate 2/3/2011 Sen. Tim Owens			*Tennessee* SJR 535 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate 6/2007 Adopted by House on 4/17/2008 Sen. Roy Herron

	*Kentucky* HR 244 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted on 3/26/2008 Rep. Mary Lou Marzian			*Texas* HCR 1670 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 5/1/2011 Adopted on 5/5/2011 Rep. Dennis Bonnen SCR 4 - Introduced on 1/3/2011 Adoption Pending Senator Joan Huffman

	*Louisiana* SR 109 - Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted by Senate 6/2007 Sen. Edwin Murray			*Utah* SR 1 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 1/23/2009 Adopted on 2/5/2009 Senator Patricia Jones HR 2 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/3/2009 Adopted on 2/19/2009 Rep. Gregory Hughes

	*Maine* HP 924 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/25/2009 Adopted by House 3/31/2009 Adopted by Senate 4/2/2009 Rep. Linda Valentino Senator Margaret Craven Senator Barry Hobbins			*Vermont* JRS 47 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/9/2010 Adopted on 5/12/2010 Senator Richard Sears Senator Robert Hartwell

	*Maryland* HJR 5 - Introduced on 3/14/2008 Adoption Pending Delegate Theodore Sophocleus			*Virginia* HJ 126 - Introduced on 1/9/2008 Adoption Pending Delegate Johnny Joannou Delegate Manoli Loupassi

	*Massachusetts* Read the resolution [PDF] Adopted on 4/16/2008 Senator Gale Candaras			*Washington* HJM 4003 - Introduced on 1/15/2009 Adoption Pending Rep. Deb Wallace Rep. Bill Hinkle

	*Michigan* SCR 6 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/19/2009 Adopted by House 3/19/2009 Adopted by Senate 3/25/2009 Senator John Pappageorge Senator John Gleason Senator Roger Kahn			*West Virginia* HCR 37 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 2/11/2008 Adopted by House 3/3/2008 Adopted by Senate 3/8/2008 Delegate Samuel Cann Sen. Joseph Minard

	*Mississippi* HCR 67 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/19/2008 Adopted by House 3/31/2008 Adopted by Senate 4/16/2008 Rep. Alyce Clarke			*Wisconsin* SR 10 - Read the resolution [PDF] Introduced on 3/4/2010 Adopted on 4/22/2010 Sen. Ted Kanavas

	*Missouri* No resolution has been introduced at this time.			*Wyoming* No resolution has been introduced at this time.

	*Montana* No resolution has been introduced at this time.

(Posting date 17 May 2011)

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