III
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 392
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8, 2012
Mr. Brown of Massachusetts (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Kirk) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
RESOLUTION
Urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.
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—
end all forms of religious discrimination;
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;
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
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.