This letter was sent on January 17, 2023.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.ca

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

As church leaders we are grateful for the ongoing commitment of the government of Canada to human rights around the world. We are particularly grateful for the ongoing support of the special and historic status of Jerusalem as a city sacred to the Abrahamic faiths, including Christianity. It is in light of that support that we write to express our deep concern for the recent desecration of the Protestant cemetery on Mt. Zion, currently under the oversight of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem.

In recent years attacks on the Christian community and their places of worship have increased in frequency and severity. Only a few months ago St. Andrew’s Church, Ramallah was raided by Israeli forces seeking the offices of a human rights organization, Al-Haq, which rented space in the building but had a separate entrance. Archbishop Hosam Naoum spoke of the fear and terror for those living in the compound in the midst of the two hour occupation of their church. Religious spaces are expected to be safe from intrusion.

Together, Bishop Susan Johnson and Archbishop Linda Nicholls made a visit to the Holy Land in December 2022 where they heard from church leaders about the increasing fragility of the Christian presence, which is primarily Palestinian, in light of these acts of violence. We stand with Archbishop Naoum and others calling for joint efforts by local religious and political leaders to combat acts of defilement against sacred sites, and to create a safer, more respectful and tolerant environment in Jerusalem, which is revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

We urge the government of Canada to express its concern for the safety and dignity of the Christian community in the Holy Land and to support the right to security of its people, buildings and property.

As in Archbishop Nicholls’ letter to Minister Melanie Joly on August 24, 2022, concerning the Israeli military’s attack on St. Andrew’s Church, Ramallah, we believe Canada’s continued silence on the escalation of assaults of various kinds against Christians by Israel’s religious extremists and illegal settlers, emboldens such violations of international law and universal human rights.

While we are encouraged by Israel’s condemnation of the vandalism to the Mount Zion cemetery, and the arrest of perpetrators, we remained concerned and seek an opportunity to discuss these matters with you.

Sincerely,

The Most Reverend Linda Nicholls
Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church of Canada

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

We endorse this letter from Anglican Primate and Archbishop Linda Nicholls and ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson and urge the government of Canada to express its concern for the safety and dignity of the Christian community in the Holy Land and to support the right to security of its people, buildings and property.

+Irénée
Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada, The Canadian Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of Canada/
Archevêque d’Ottawa et du Canada, L’Église orthodoxe du Canada, Archidiocèse du Canada

Tim McCoy
Executive Minister, Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

Ruth Pincoe
Presiding Clerk of Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

The Rev. Doug Klassen
Executive Minister, Mennonite Church of Canada

The Rev. Dr. Robert Faris
Moderator of the 147^th General Assembly
The Presbyterian Church of Canada/L’Église presbytérienne au Canada

The Rev. Victor S. J. Kim
Principal Clerk of the General Assembly
The Presbyterian Church of Canada/L’Église presbytérienne au Canada

Commissioner Floyd J. Tidd
Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army

+Lawrence Huculak
Archbishop and Metropolitan of Winnipeg, Ukranian Catholic Church in Canada
Archeveque et Metropolite de Winnipeg, Eglise catholique ukrainienne du Canada

The Right Reverend Dr. Carmen Lansdowne
Moderator, The United Church of Canada/ L’Église Unie du Canada

Cc:

The Hon. Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Melanie.Joly@international.gc.ca
Melanie.Joly@parl.gc.ca

Conservative Party of Canada
The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, P.C., M.P.
Pierre.Poilievre@parl.gc.ca

New Democratic Party of Canada
Jagmeet Singh, M.P.
Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca

Bloc Quebecois
Yves-Francois Blanchet, M.P.
Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Michael Chong, Critic for Foreign Affairs, Conservative Party of Canada, P.C., M.P. Michael.Chong@parl.gc.ca

The Hon. Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, P.C., M.P. Rob.Oliphant@parl.gc.ca

Heather McPherson, Critic for Foreign Affairs, New Democratic Party, M.P. Heather.McPherson@parl.gc.ca

Elizabeth May, Co-leader, Green Party of Canada, M.P.,
Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca

Stéphane Bergeron, Critic for Foreign Affairs, Bloc Québécois,  M.P.
Stephane.Bergeron@parl.gc.ca

David Da Silva, Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority David.DaSilva@international.gc.ca

Lisa Stadelbauer, Ambassador of Canada to the State of Israel
Lisa.Stadelbauer@international.gc.ca

* * *

To read a statement from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem about the Israeli military’s raid on St Andrew’s Church in Ramallah, see this post.