Louis Hradecki  

Director                    

Social Justice, Missions & Refugees

Ph: 922-4747 ext. 233

Email: socialjustice@padiocese.ca

Ecumenical & Interfaith Joint Statement for Rohingya

 

Hello,
As you may recall, on 20 September 2018, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion recognizing the recent violence against the Rohingya people as genocide, the gravest of crimes under international law.

On Friday, in partnership with the Canadian Council of Imams, the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), faith leaders in Canada have responded to the crisis through the release of a joint public statement endorsed by over 20 religious organizations in Canada.

Faith Groups in Canada unite their voices in an appeal to the People of Myanmar: ‘Seek Justice and Reconciliation!’

On 20th September 2018, the Canadian House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion recognizing the recent violence against the Rohingya people as genocide, the gravest of crimes under international law.[1] The Parliament of Canada on six other occasions has formally recognized such horrendous occurrences: the Armenian genocide, the Holodomor (the genocidal famine of Ukrainians by the Stalinist Soviet regime), the Holocaust (the genocide of European and North African Jews during World War II), the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and the genocide of the Yazidis people by ISIS.[2] More recently, the Government of Canada has recognized the crime of genocide against the Romani people during the Second World War.[3]

The 20th September vote in the Canadian House of Commons follows the release of the report by the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar, which detailed gross human rights violations in Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan States and recommended that those responsible for these crimes “be investigated and prosecuted in an international criminal tribunal for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.”[4]

As faith leaders of diverse communities in Canada, we are united in our belief and concern for the inviolable dignity of all persons. Each of our respective religious traditions calls on us to be a light in the darkness, a voice in the deafening silence, to make our voices heard and our presence felt when peace has been shattered and the vulnerable are being persecuted. It is for these reasons that we feel compelled to speak out together for the people of Myanmar, particularly the Rohingya, and to say: Never again! No more war, no more dehumanizing our brothers and sisters, no more killing of innocent women, men and children. We strongly encourage the people of Myanmar to build peace, to heal the wounds of your communities through dialogue and forgiveness, and to let justice be realized for those who have been wronged.

With heavy hearts and deep sorrow, we see once again the pain and sufferings of the twentieth century manifesting themselves, this time in Myanmar. We recognize again the same horrific themes: the systematic dehumanization of peoples, the indifference of many, and the all too frequent display of moral cowardliness. As Canadians we ask ourselves how to respond to such a faraway conflict. There are indeed a number of ways to help. Financial contributions can be made through a host of aid agencies. We can speak out to our elected officials. Both of these are praiseworthy endeavours. There is another option as well. Each of us can redouble our efforts to become agents of peace and reconciliation in our own families, workplaces and communities, to be bridges of understanding in a time of deep division and discord. Peace starts in our own hearts and our local communities as does the fomenting of division and conflict. Let us work together to sow the seeds of peace! As faith leaders, we implore our faithful to turn towards the power of prayer and pray for justice, reconciliation and peace for the people of Myanmar!

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations’ Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – the first human rights document adopted by the UN General Assembly – let us raise our voices once again and say: Never again!

Signatories:

Asif Khan, National Secretary Public Relations, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada

Fred J. Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church of Canada

His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Diocese of Canada

Dr. Adriana Bara, Canadian Centre for Ecumenism

+Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Imam Refaat Abo Omar, President, Canadian Council of Imams

Nuzhat Jafri, Executive Director, Canadian Council of Muslim Women

Canadian Rabbinic Caucus (an initiative of CIJA)

Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Garbin, Regional Minister, Region of Canada, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US & Canada

Rev. Dr. Darren Roorda, Canadian Ministries Director, Christian Reformed Church in North America

Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka CM, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, Ontario

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Naj Mankal, President, Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario

Ali Jomaa, Chairman, London Muslim Mosque

The Rev. Daniel Cho, Moderator, Presbyterian Church in Canada

Beverly Shepard, Presiding Clerk, Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Fareed Khan, Director of Advocacy and Media Relations, Rohingya Human Rights Network

Rabbi Chaim Strauchler, Shaarei Shomayim Congregation

Rev. David Hearn, President, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

Susan McMillan, Commissioner, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda

Nora Sanders, General Secretary, The United Church of Canada

Toronto Board of Rabbis

UOSSM- Canada

André Schutten, HonB.A., LL.B., LL.M.

Notes:

1 Cf. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rohingya-myanmar-military-1.4831956

2 Cf. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadianheritage/news/2017/04/statement_by_ministerjolyongenocideremembrancecondemnationandpre.html ; http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/house/sitting-97/hansard

3 Cf. https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2018/08/statement-by-minister-of-foreign-affairs-and-minister-of-canadian-heritage-and-multiculturalism-on-romani-genocide-remembrance-day.html

4 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM-Myanmar/A_HRC_39_64.pdf

--

Nicholas Jesson
Ecumenical Officer, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina
445 Broad Street N, Regina SK S4R 2X8 CANADA
njesson@archregina.sk.ca or jesson@ecumenism.net
office: 306-352-1651, ext. 220; cell: 306-580-8094

Short videos responding to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide 

A series of short locally-prepared videos about “Finding the Gifts in a World of Choices” have been produced in Saskatchewan under the direction of a Saskatchewan bishops’ advisory committee, thanks to financial support from the Saskatchewan K of C Charitable Foundation. Two new videos – one focused on L’Arche and one on Suicide Prevention – have been added to the first two short videos released earlier on Palliative Care and on Care for the Elderly. All four can be found online at: www.findingthegifts.ca . Please watch and share! Please click to view: