FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2014 [email protected] Washington Summit to Call Attention tojkjk Plight of Christians in the Middle East Historic Gathering Will Feature Patriarchs from Middle East, Lawmakers and International Human Rights Activists Washington– The deteriorating situation facing millions of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East will be the focus of a bipartisan and ecumenical conference in the nations capital next month. The three-day event sponsored by In Defense of Christians (IDC) will feature speakers from all over the globe. The IDC Summit for Middle East Christians, whose theme is “Protecting and Preserving Christianity, Where It All Began”, will be the first occasion in history where six Christian Patriarchs from the Middle East will gather together in the United States. IDC President Toufic Baaklini said, “For too long, Westerners have stood by, silent or unaware, while Christians and other groups in the Middle East have endured discrimination, persecution, and religious cleansing. Today, as the Islamic State continues its genocidal campaign against Christians in Iraq and Syria, the globe is finally awakening to their plight. IDC exists to give voice to these voiceless people. In this hour of their greatest peril, they are in desperate need of support. We must act now.” Baaklini stated: “To this end, IDC is hosting a historic global Summit for Middle East Christians, September 9-11, in Washington, D.C. This summit will empower the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora and energize the American people to stand in solidarity the ancient Christian communities of the Middle East. Their survival is vital to stability in the region, and their ability to flourish in their countries of origin has national security implications for the United States.” Summit attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff, policy makers, diplomats, human rights activists, and religious leaders. Speakers include: Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Rai; Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II; Archbishop of Washington Donald Cardinal Wuerl; Leonardo Cardinal Sandri of the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX); Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL); Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Dr. James Zogby; and Nina Shea, Director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom. For a full roster of speakers, please click here. To register, please click here. ***** In Defense of Christians (IDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to the preservation and protection of Christians in the Middle East. indefenseofchristians.org idcsummit.org 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 325, Washington, D.C. 20006 Inaugural Summit for Middle East Christians September 9 - 11, 2014 Washington, D.C. Schedule* DAY ONE – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014* Time Event Location 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Ecumenical Christian Prayer Service Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Description: Representatives of all denominations and Rites in attendance join in ecumenical Christian prayer service. His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Beatitude, Patriarch John X (Yazigi) Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church His Grace Bishop Angaelos General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria His Excellency Ibrahim Ibrahim Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle Auxiliary Bishop Martin Holley Archdiocese of Washington *Note: Additional participants to be announced. DAY ONE – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014, CONTINUED 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Introductory Remarks Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Andrew Doran, Executive Director In Defense of Christians Toufic Baaklini, President In Defense of Christians National Anthem 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Opening Remarks The Honorable John Ashcroft Former Attorney General of the United States His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Reception Omni Shoreham Ambassador Ballroom DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Omni Shoreham Ambassador Ballroom Keynote Address Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Theme: Call to Unity Welcome by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl Archbishop of Washington His Eminence, Leonardo Cardinal Sandri Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Transportation to Capitol Hill 10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Hill Briefing (brief panel event) Congressional Auditorium Description: Following the theme of the Breakfast keynote, senior advocacy and human rights experts discuss the most effective means of advocacy on the Hill. Educational materials are issued to Diaspora attendees. Discuss includes team assignments and other information. DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, CONTINUED Nina Shea Director, Center for Religious Freedom Hudson Institute Tom Farr Director of the Religious Freedom Project Georgetown University’s Berkeley Center for Religion, World Peace and World Affairs Additional speakers TBA. 11:00 a.m. -11:10 p.m. Statement on Behalf of All Patriarchs Congressional Auditorium His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Remarks by Members of House and Senate Congressional Auditorium Description: House and Senate members address, and engage in Q&A, time permitting and meet with Summit attendees. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) Congressman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch Capitol Hill Congressional Meeting Room South 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Direct advocacy and education House and Senate Offices Description: Attendees meet at pre-scheduled meetings with targeted key House and Senate members and their staffs to educate them on the crisis. Diaspora meetings will be arranged in advance by IDC staff. 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception Capitol Hill Congressional Atrium DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, CONTINUED 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Return to Omni Shoreham 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception Omni Shoreham Ambassador Ballroom 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Gala Solidarity Dinner Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Theme: Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Keynote Address The Honorable Ted Cruz (R-TX) United States Senator His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Beatitude, Patriarch John X (Yazigi) Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox His Excellency Ibrahim Ibrahim Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle DAY THREE – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Keynote Address His Beatitude, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. First Panel Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Theme: Christians in The Middle East Present and Future Moderator: Alexis Moukarzel Opening Remarks His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria DAY THREE – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, CONTINUED His Excellency Ibrahim Ibrahim Bishop Emeritus of Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle Patriarchal Keynotes His Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Topic: “Consolidating Christian Presence and Role in the Middle East: Solutions and Perspectives” His Beatitude, Patriarch John X (Yazigi) Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox Topic: TBD His Beatitude, Gregorius III Laham Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem Topic: “Christians in the Middle East: Presence. Role. Vision” His Beatitude, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Topic: TBD His Beatitude, Ignatius Youssef III Younan Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Topic: “Advocacy for Christian Survival in the Middle East” His Beatitude, Aram I Keshishian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church Topic: “The Future of Christianity in the Middle East: Vision and Plan of Action 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. - Noon Second Panel Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Theme: Changing Policy Through Awareness and Advocacy Moderator: Dr. Robert Danin Nermein Riad Executive Director, Coptic Orphans Nina Shea Director, Center for Religious Freedom Hudson Institute Tom Farr Director of the Religious Freedom Project Georgetown University’s Berkeley Center for Religion, World Peace and World Affairs DAY THREE – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, CONTINUED Canon Andrew White Chaplain, Saint George’s Anglican Church Baghdad, Iraq Dr. James Zogby Arab American Institute Rabie Rateb Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation Noon - 12:30 p.m. Break Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Lunch Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Keynote Address Theme: Unity with the Persecuted Canon Andrew White Chaplain, Saint George’s Anglican Church Baghdad, Iraq 1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Break 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. First Afternoon Panel Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Theme: Why Christianity Is Vital to The Middle East Moderator: Judge Boohaker Canon Andrew White Chaplain, Saint George’s Anglican Church Baghdad, Iraq Bishop Julian Dobbs Barnabas Fund Michael LaCivita CNEWA Edward Clancy Aid to the Church in Need Nabil Costa Supreme Council for Evangelicals in Syria and Lebanon Nehmet Frem Vice President, Maronite Foundation IDC Board Member DAY THREE – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, CONTINUED Dr. Phillip Salem Director of the Cancer Research Program St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Houston Speaker TBD Catholic Relief Services 4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Break 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Second Afternoon Panel Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Theme: Using Social Media to Promote Human Rights in Iraq, Syria & Egypt Dr. Bronwen Robertson James Marchant Small Media 4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Concluding Remarks Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom Toufic Baaklini, President In Defense of Christians Description: Thanks attendees and closes with a “call to action.” 5:15 p.m. Summit Concludes ***** *Note: The schedule is subject to modifications. Please refer periodically to the IDC Summit homepage at idcsummit.org for updates. Regards, Joseph T. Kassab, MSC, BS, GC Founder and President and IDC Advisory Board Member IRAQI CHRISTIANS ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE (ICAE) WWW.ADVOCATESTOEMPOWER.ORG office: (800) 666-6233 direct: (248) 882-1912 fax: (248) 671-9610 [email protected] 5779 W MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 106, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI 48322 Together we build sustainable communities with innovative initiatives
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:54:32 +0000
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