A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE INAUGURAL SOUTH CAROLINA RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONFERENCE AND THEIR EFFORTS TO REINFORCE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE PALMETTO STATE, TO ENCOURAGE ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY TO ANY AND ALL PEOPLE, AND TO DECLARE MARCH 1, 2025, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA, FIRST IN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DAY" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, South Carolina has a storied history in recognition of the significance of religious liberty and its establishment as a legal right; and

 

Whereas, on March 1, 1669, the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina drafted by Anthony Ashley Cooper with the help of philosopher John Locke was adopted by the eight Lord Proprietors of Carolina; and

 

Whereas, the guarantee of religious liberty and freedom of worship contained in the document is said to be the first such foundational government guarantee in the Americas and, indeed, in the world; and

 

Whereas, this guarantee of religious liberty, as enshrined in the Fundamental Constitutions, became a beacon of hope in Europe for those being oppressed because of their faith and made Charleston the center of the free world for religious expression; and

 

Whereas, on January 15, 2025, representatives of many faiths including, but not limited to, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, joined together for the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference for the purpose of celebrating and promoting the Palmetto State's historic and contemporary embrace of the freedom of religion and conscience; and

 

Whereas, the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference was hosted by the University of South Carolina's Rice School of Law and was organized by partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Center for Law and Religious Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, and Interfaith Partners of South Carolina; and

 

Whereas, in addition to legal scholars and elected officials, presenters at the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference included representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, South Carolina Historical Society, African Methodist Episcopalian (A.M.E.) Church, Aiken Muslim Association, Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, Center for Jewish Life-Chabad of Charleston and the Low Country, Church of God in Christ, and Interfaith Partners of South Carolina; and

 

Whereas, by acclamation of the participants in the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference, it was resolved to promote contemporary support for the principles of religious liberty by petitioning the South Carolina General Assembly to recognize South Carolina's unique history in promoting and safeguarding the members of a free society's right to worship when, where, and how their conscience may dictate, as first guaranteed by the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina; and

 

Whereas, this daring and historic masterpiece is a source of pride for all South Carolinians and a reason for all of our citizens to embrace, support, and celebrate our state's legacy and leadership in the promotion of religious liberty; and

 

Whereas, while South Carolina has been a beacon of religious liberty, its history also includes periods where the ideals of freedom were not fully realized. Let us honor South Carolina's contributions to the cause of religious liberty while committing ourselves to continue to learn from the lessons of our past and ensure these sacred freedoms extend to all.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend the organizers and participants of the inaugural South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference and their efforts to reinforce principles of religious liberty in the Palmetto State, encourage all South Carolinians to recognize and celebrate the essential importance of religious liberty to any and all people, and declare the anniversary of the adoption of the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, March 1, 2025, as "South Carolina, First in Religious Liberty Day" in the State of South Carolina.

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