PARLIAMENT OF CANADA PASSES UNANIMOUS MOTION HONOURING METROPOLITAN ANDREI SHEPTYTSKY
Ottawa, Canada — April 26, 2012. - The Ukrainian Canadian Congress welcomes the unanimous adoption of a historic motion honouring Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky by the Parliament of Canada on Tuesday April 24, 2012.
"This very important tribute by the Parliament of Canada to the deeds of Metropolitan Sheptytsky in saving the lives of many Jews in the Nazi Holocaust during World War II is a testament to the world of his righteousness," stated UCC National President Paul Grod. "The acts of Metropolitan Sheptytsky shine as a beacon for all of us to do the right thing in the face of difficult circumstances. We applaud this recognition and are grateful for the statement made by Ted Opitz, a Polish Canadian Member of Parliament, and to Minister Jason Kenney for proposing the motion as well as to all Members of Parliament for their principled and non-partisan unanimous approval."
The motion was adopted in the House of Commons in the presence of the Council of Ukrainian Churches and Religious Organizations who came to Canada to participate in the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Program titled "Honouring Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky and His Legacy" spearheaded by James Temerty C.M., Chairman of UJE and UCC's Advisory Council.
"I am very proud that Christians, Jews and Muslims have come together to honour Metropolitan Sheptytsky," stated Temerty. "We are encouraged by the Vatican's consideration of his beatification and urge Israel's Yad Vashem to recognize him as one of the Righteous among Nations. In the words of one Holocaust survivor, the Metropolitan was a "spiritual giant". We are privileged to honour and draw moral inspiration from his legacy."
