Illinois 98th Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SR 70 — TURKEY-HONOR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS

Last action — Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 98th Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Urges the Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise, cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

35 added · 21 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Resolution 70 highlights positive actions taken by the Turkish government regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate, such as returning significant properties and improving citizenship opportunities for Orthodox clergy. These additions aim to recognize progress made while still urging Turkey to safeguard religious and human rights. This matters because it fosters a more balanced view, acknowledging improvements while continuing to advocate for necessary reforms.

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*LRB09808249GRL38347r* SR0070 LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r SENATE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, The Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is the Sacred See that presides in a spirit of brotherhood over a communion of self-governing churches of the Orthodox Christian world;
*LRB09808249GRL38347r* 09800SR0070 Enrolled LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r SENATE RESOLUTION NO.
70 WHEREAS, The Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is the Sacred See that presides in a spirit of brotherhood over a communion of self-governing churches of the Orthodox Christian world;
and WHEREAS, Following the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gathered SR0070 -2- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r a group of international religious leaders to produce the first joint statement with Muslim leaders that condemned the 9/11 attacks as "antireligious";
and WHEREAS, Following the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gathered 09800SR0070 Enrolled -2- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r a group of international religious leaders to produce the first joint statement with Muslim leaders that condemned the 9/11 attacks as "antireligious";
and WHEREAS, The Government of Turkey has limited the candidates available to hold the office of Ecumenical Patriarch SR0070 -3- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r to only Turkish nationals, and from the millions of Orthodox Christians living in Turkey at the turn of the 20th century and due to the continued policies during this period by the Turkish government, there remain less than 3,000 of the Ecumenical Patriarch's flock left in Turkey today;
and WHEREAS, The Government of Turkey has limited the candidates available to hold the office of Ecumenical Patriarch 09800SR0070 Enrolled -3- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r to only Turkish nationals, and from the millions of Orthodox Christians living in Turkey at the turn of the 20th century and due to the continued policies during this period by the Turkish government, there remain less than 3,000 of the Ecumenical Patriarch's flock left in Turkey today;
and WHEREAS, The European Union defined membership criteria for accession at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, obligating candidate countries to achieve certain levels of reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing SR0070 -4- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for and protection of minorities and human rights;
and WHEREAS, The European Union defined membership criteria for accession at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, obligating candidate countries to achieve certain levels of reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing 09800SR0070 Enrolled -4- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for and protection of minorities and human rights;
therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise, cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate SR0070 -5- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate;
and WHEREAS, We rightly appreciate that the current Turkish government has made positive improvements over the last 8 years in its relation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate with respect to the return of two significant properties formerly in dispute, with respect to allowing Orthodox clergy in lands outside 09800SR0070 Enrolled -5- LRB098 08249 GRL 38347 r Turkey to apply and gain citizenship in Turkey to help ensure the possibility of patriarchal succession, and with respect to the physical security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the recent uncovering and thwarting of a plotted assassination of Patriarch Bartholomew;
and WHEREAS, We recognize that the current Turkish government has continued to negotiate and publicly address these and other related issues with a commitment to their resolution in a manner acceptable to all interested parties;
therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise, cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate;
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Action History

  1. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)

  2. Resolution Adopted as Amended

  3. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Withdrawn by Sen. William E. Brady

  4. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terry Link

  5. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Be Approved for Consideration Assignments

  6. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments

  7. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William E. Brady

  8. Placed on Calendar Order of Secretary's Desk Resolutions May 30, 2013

  9. Be Adopted as Amended Executive; 015-000-000

  10. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

  11. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments

  12. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William E. Brady

  13. Waive Posting Notice

  14. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive

  15. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

  16. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William E. Brady

  17. Assigned to Executive

  18. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman

  19. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

  20. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Thomas Cullerton

  21. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison

  22. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karen McConnaughay

  23. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson

  24. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Tim Bivins

  25. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings

  26. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Melinda Bush

  27. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Noland

  28. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dan Duffy

  29. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Daniel Biss

  30. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale A. Righter

  31. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Matt Murphy

  32. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

  33. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Heather A. Steans

  34. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Pat McGuire

  35. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Jacobs

  36. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sue Rezin

  37. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dan Kotowski

  38. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

  39. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III

  40. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

  41. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

  42. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chapin Rose

  43. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.

  44. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Steven M. Landek

  45. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Kirk W. Dillard

  46. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Christine Radogno

  47. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

  48. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Connelly

  49. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt

  50. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. David S. Luechtefeld

  51. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. John G. Mulroe

  52. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham

  53. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

  54. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Antonio Muñoz

  55. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Wm. Sam McCann

  56. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason A. Barickman

  57. Referred to Assignments

  58. Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Darin M. LaHood

  59. Filed with Secretary

Sponsors

  • William E. Brady · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 182 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

  • William E. Brady

Not signed on (182)

182 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What does SR 70 do?
Urges the Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and human rights without compromise, cease its discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Who sponsors SR 70?
SR 70 is sponsored by William E. Brady.
What is the current status of SR 70?
This bill died with 98th Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SR 70?
Track SR 70 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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