Archbishop Papken Tcharian Signs a Joint Declaration with the Religious Leaders of Quebec

On March 23, 2020, Prelate Tcharian, signed a joint declaration with the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim religious leaders of the Province of Quebec.

The Declaration reads:

As the leaders and representatives of religious communities in Quebec, we affirm that faith is a fundamental aspect of our lives. Among other things, our faith demands that we act to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities and in our society.

COVID-19 poses a major threat to the people of Quebec, particularly the elderly and those whose health is already fragile.

Paradoxically, the only adequate way to respond at this critical time is to continue to pray from our homes, to suspend all religious gatherings, to temporarily close our places of worship, and to set an example by respecting instructions regarding social distancing and self-isolation.

We acknowledge the great sacrifice that these measures represent. We are taking these actions for the good of our communities and for the good of our entire population.

Therefore we encourage communities of faith to offer alternatives that will allow individuals to participate in religious services without leaving their homes, including liturgies celebrated privately in places of worship and broadcast through the internet or on television.

We call on all people of faith to cooperate with governmental authorities in confronting the threat of this pandemic.

We pray that God will protect us all from harm and keep us all in peace.

Declaration signed by (in Alphabetical order)

Monsieur Eduardo ALVES DOS ANJOS, Islamic relief of Canada
Dr. Adriana BARA, directrice du Centre canadien d’œcuménisme
Monsieur Boufeldja BENABDALLAH, Président et fondateur, Grande Mosquée de Québec
The Rev. Dr. Katherine BURGESS, Moderator, Presbytery of Quebec, Église Presbytérienne du Canada
M. Michel J. CARTER, Soixante-dix d’interrégion, Église de Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours
Rev. Dr. Glenn CHESTNUTT, Lead Minister, Presbyterian Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul
Ven. Bhante DHNMALAZKAR, Communauté bouddhiste du Canada, Canada Khamer Buddhist Temple
Mme Rajaa DOUKKAR, Responsable des relations publiques, Moquée BelAgir, Québec
Mgr Paul-André DUROCHER, Archevêque catholique de Gatineau, Assemblée des évêques catholiques
du Québec
M. Jaml EL HACHIMI, Président, Association des étudiants musulmans de l’Université Laval
Mme Sherril GILBERT, Présidente, Dialogue judéo-chrétien de Montréal
M. Mohamed HAFID, Responsable des relations publiques, Mosquée de la Capitale
Mgr Mary IRWIN-GIBSON, Évêque, Diocèse anglican de Montréal
Bishop Abgar HOVAKIMYAN, Primate of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
The Most Reverend IRENÉE, Archbishop of Ottawa and of the Archdiocese of Canada Orthodox Church
of America
Rabba Rachel KOHL FINEGOLD, Présidente, Conseil des rabbins de Montréal
Rev. Rosemary LAMBIE, Executive minister, Conseil régional de l’Outaouais et de l’Est de l’Ontario,
Église Unie du Canada
M. Moulay-Larbi LARABI, Président et fondateur, Mosquée du Grand Lévis
Mgr Christian LÉPINE, Archevêque catholique de Montréal, Assemblée des évêques catholiques du
Québec
Rev. Sybil MOSLEY, Minister, Presbytery of Montreal, Église Presbytérienne du Canada
Mgr Bruce MYERS, Évêque, Diocèse anglican de Québec
Dr. Mamata NAKRA, communauté Hindou
Mme Nicole O’BOMSAWIN, Membre du Conseil de Bande, Abénakis d’Odanak
Mgr Marc PELCHAT, Évêque auxiliaire catholique de Québec, Assemblée des évêques catholiques du
Québec
Rabbin Reuben POUPKO, Co-président, Caucus Rabbinique Canadien
Bishop Micheal PRYSE, Synode de l’est de l’Église évangélique luthérienne du Canada
Mgr Gaétan PROULX, Évêque catholique de Gaspé, Assemblée des évêques catholiques du Québec
Mgr Christian RODEMBOURG, Évêque catholique de Saint-Hyacinthe, Président de l’Assemblée des
évêques catholiques du Québec
M. Navjoj SINGH, Sikh Temple Association Inc
Dr. M.N.S. SWAMY, Communauté Hindou de Montréal
Archbishop Papken TCHARIAN, Prelate Armenian Holy Apostolic Church of Canada