US Congressman Steven Stockman (R-Texas) was unable to attend the February
6, 2016 rally Houston’s Romanian community held in front of the Norwegian
Consulate in Houston. He was in the Middle East on a mission related to
the protection of the Christian minority there. However, he compiled a
message for the participants which was read to the 500 individuals who
attended the rally:
“Thank you for the invitation to attend the rally of the Romanian-American
community of Houston on February 6, 2016 in front of the Norwegian
Consulate in Houston. I am a Houstonian and have represented the people of
Houston in the United States Congress for several years. I am grateful for
your invitation, but unfortunately I cannot participate. I am in the
Middle East working on an equally worthy cause, the protection of
Christians from their Islamist persecutors.
Though I cannot be with you today, I extend to you my best wishes. I
sympathize with your cause and trust that the Norwegian Government will
show compassion and allow the quick reuniting of the Bodnariu children
with their parents. I join in the chorus of voices which plead for this
case and pray that God intervenes to do justice to the family.
The United States and Norway have traditionally had close economic and
cultural ties. It is my hope that the excesses committed by Norwegian
authorities with respect to the Bodnariu family will not repeat themselves
but will be corrected promptly, hoping also that in this fashion America’s
relations with Norway will continue to remain positive and friendly.
I take this opportunity to also greet the entire Romanian-American
community of Houston. I represented some of you in the United States
Congress. I have heard many good things about you, your faith in God, and
the strong churches you have in Houston. With God’s grace, I hope to visit
one of your churches in the future, as well as Romania. May God Bless the
United States, Romania, and Norway!”
Congressman Steven Stockman (R-Texas)