Text of the motion introduced
by Minister Jason Kenney in the House of Commons on Tuesday (April 25)
honouring Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
The motion was passed with unanimous (and full-throated) consent from all parties.
Hon. Jason Kenney (Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Conservative Party of Canada):
Mr. Speaker, on
behalf of all members, we are delighted to be joined by religious
leaders from Ukraine and I believe there have been consultations from
all parties. I am pleased to propose the following motion and I seek
unanimous consent for its adoption. I move: Whereas Metropolitan Andrey
Sheptytsky (1865-1944) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, was the leader
of Western Ukraine's largest faith group during the period of the Second
World War; and Whereas in the darkest period of Europe's history, with
the deepening horrors of the mass murder of Jews in their homelands in
Eastern Europe under German occupation during World War II, he spoke out
eloquently against anti-Jewish violence and urged his congregants in a
famous homily: "Thou Shalt Not Kill;” and Whereas leaders and
representatives of all Ukraine's major faith communities—Christian,
Jewish, and Muslim—are visiting Canada to acknowledge Metropolitan
Sheptytsky's good works; and Whereas Metropolitan Sheptytsky acted to
shelter and rescue Jews, saving over 160, including some present with us
in Ottawa today; This House is united in expressing Canada's
recognition of Andrey Sheptytsky's courageous actions, compassion for
his oppressed Jewish Ukrainian countrymen, and enduring example of
commitment to fundamental human rights as humankind's highest
obligation.
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