DINGELL, DELAURO URGE STATE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE GOVERNMENTS RESPECT ACCESS TO HOLY SITES AFTER CLERGY BLOCKED FROM CHURCH IN ISRAEL AT START OF HOLY WEEK

Washington, March 31 -- Congresswoman Debbie Dingell issued the following press release:

Today, U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) expressed their concerns over encroachments on religious freedom amid the start of Easter Week. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers urged the State Department to ensure foreign governments, particularly our allies, closely consult with the United States as decisions are made regarding access to holy sites for people of faith during religious holidays.

The effort follows an incident in Jerusalem at the start of Easter Week where Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and a small group of other Catholic clergy were blocked by Israeli Authorities from celeb...