[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1543-S1544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 392--URGING THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO SAFEGUARD ITS 
     CHRISTIAN HERITAGE AND TO RETURN CONFISCATED CHURCH PROPERTIES

  Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. 
Kirk) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 392

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     Secretary of State, in all official contacts with officials 
     and representatives of the Government of Turkey, should 
     emphasize that the Government of Turkey should--
       (1) end all forms of religious discrimination;
       (2) allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian 
     church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to 
     organize and administer prayer services, religious education, 
     clerical training, appointments, and succession, religious 
     community gatherings, social services, including ministry to 
     the needs of the poor and infirm, and other religious 
     activities;
       (3) return to their rightful owners all Christian churches 
     and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, 
     monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious 
     properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, 
     manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and other artifacts; and
       (4) allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of 
     Christian church properties, without hindrance or 
     restriction, to preserve, reconstruct, and repair, as they 
     see fit, all Christian churches and other places of worship, 
     monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy 
     sites, and other religious properties within Turkey.

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