Dec 7, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 7, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today congratulated Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, a Commission member, on his receipt of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award. President Clinton presented the award December 6.
"We are proud to claim Archbishop McCarrick as one of our own, but humbled by his lifelong service to and concern for religious freedom and human rights," said Commission Chairman Elliott Abrams. "President Clinton rightly saw in him the qualities Mrs. Roosevelt brought to her campaign for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Currently Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, N.J., McCarrick was recently named Archbishop of Washington, D.C. by Pope John Paul II. He will be installed January 4. Archbishop McCarrick was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by Senate minority leader Thomas Daschle (D) of South Dakota. His term expires on May 14, 2000, and he is eligible for reappointment.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />
Hon. Elliott Abrams,Chair
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Dec 6, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WHAT:The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will hold a press conference to release its report critiquing the implementation of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) and the State Department's second Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. In its report, the Commission assesses the effectiveness of the IRFA process as it has been enforced by the Administration and Congress in its second year. Commission Chairman Elliott Abrams and Commissioner Nina Shea will conduct the press conference.
WHEN:Friday, December 8, 2000 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE:Room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building
BACKGROUND:One of the guiding purposes and principles behind the IRFA is to make the issue of international religious freedom an integral part of this nation's foreign policy agenda. Many conditions of religious persecution around the world can be alleviated by careful, committed action by the United States. If the IRFA process is working properly and vigorously, much more attention will be paid to the issue of religious freedom as a matter of U.S. foreign policy. With Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 10, the Commissioners will address the effectiveness of the IRFA process and the Administration's handling of this issue as a foreign policy matter. Copies of the report will be available on Friday, December 8 and can be obtained by contacting the Commission's communications department at (202) 523-3240. The report can also be found on the Commission's Web site at www.uscirf.gov.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />
Hon. Elliott Abrams,Chair
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Nov 21, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
The Vice Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Firuz Kazemzadeh, today congratulated Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, a Commission member, on his appointment as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington, D.C. by Pope John Paul II.
"Archbishop McCarrick has impressed his fellow Commissioners by his gentle nature, clear-mindedness, and strict devotion to the cause of religious freedom for all peoples," Dr. Kazemzadeh said. "I'm sure the Catholic faithful of the Washington archdiocese will quickly come to value those qualities as well."
As a member of the Commission, Archbishop McCarrick has participated in its regular monthly meetings and periodic public hearings and has represented the Commission on trips overseas. He was appointed by Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D) of South Dakota under the terms of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which created the Commission. Archbishop McCarrick's two-year term, like that of all Commissioners, expires May 14, 2001, and he is eligible for reappointment.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />
Hon. Elliott Abrams,Chair
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