In a letter to the Ambassador of Israel to Canada from Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, the CCCB requests that the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem be allowed to fulfill his duties as Bishop.

Her Excellency Miriam Ziv
Ambassador of State of Israel to Canada
Embassy of Israel
50 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6L2

Your Excellency,

It has come to our attention that the special residency permit of the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, the Right Reverend Suheil Dawani, has been withdrawn by the Ministry of the Interior. This denial of residency limits Bishop Dawani’s ability to fulfill his duties as Bishop.

The State of Israel over the years has respected the freedom of religion, and the right of religious communities to elect their own leaders and to worship in their own traditions. It appears to us that the denial of Bishop Dawani’s free exercise of his religious duties affects him not only personally, but also impacts upon the needs and the rights of the Anglican community in Jerusalem.

We wish to join the Chief Rabbinate and the leaders of the Christian Churches in Israel, as well as the British Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, in requesting the Government of Israel to resolve this matter, and to make clear its commitment to religious freedom within its jurisdiction.

Sincerely in the One God,

Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien
Chair of the Human Rights Committee Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Cc:
The Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Bernie M. Farber
Canadian Jewish Congress
Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land- Secretariat
P.O. Box 49411 | Jerusalem 91491

The Most Rev. Fredrick James Hiltz Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada