Bill Text: MN SR66 | 2019-2020 | 91st Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution recognizing Religious Freedom Day
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-25 - Referred to Rules and Administration [SR66 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2019-SR66-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2recognizing Religious Freedom Day.
1.3WHEREAS, United States democracy is rooted in the fundamental truth that all people are
1.4created equal, endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and
1.5the pursuit of happiness; and
1.6WHEREAS, the freedom of conscience was highly valued by: (1) individuals seeking
1.7religious freedom who settled in the American colonies; (2) the Founders of the United States; and
1.8(3) Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in his letter to the Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
1.9New London, Connecticut, dated February 4, 1809: "No provision in our Constitution ought to be
1.10dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprizes of the civil
1.11authority."; and
1.12WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was: (1) drafted by Thomas Jefferson,
1.13who considered the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom to be one of his greatest achievements;
1.14(2) enacted on January 16, 1786; and (3) the forerunner to the Free Exercise Clause of the First
1.15Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
1.16WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects: (1) the
1.17right of individuals to express freely and peacefully act on their religious beliefs; and (2) individuals
1.18from coercion to profess or act on a religious belief to which they do not adhere; and
1.19WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson wrote: (1) in 1798, that each right encompassed in the First
1.20Amendment to the United States Constitution is dependent on the other rights described in that
1.21Amendment, "thereby guarding in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of
1.22religion, of speech, and of the press: insomuch, that whatever violated either, throws down the
1.23sanctuary which covers the others;" and (2) in 1822, that the constitutional freedom of religion is
1.24"the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights."; and
1.25WHEREAS, individuals who have studied United States democracy from an international
1.26perspective, such as Alexis de Tocqueville, have noted that religion plays a central role in preserving
1.27the United States Government, because religion provides the moral base required for democracy
1.28to succeed; and
1.29WHEREAS, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a 1935 speech delivered at the University
1.30of Notre Dame, after quoting George Mason's statement from the Virginia Declaration of Rights
1.31that "all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of
1.32conscience" went on to state: "In the conflict of policies and of political systems, which the world
1.33today witnesses, the United States has held forth for its own guidance and for the guidance of other
1.34nations, if they will accept it, this great torch of liberty of human thought, liberty of human
1.35conscience. We will never lower it."; and
1.36WHEREAS, President George H. W. Bush in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious
1.37Freedom Day in 1993 expressed that, religious freedom "has been integral to the preservation and
1.38development of the United States" and "the free exercise of religion goes hand in hand with the
1.39preservation of our other rights."; and
1.40WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his remarks accompanying the signing of the
1.41Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 expressed that, "our laws and institutions should not
1.42impede or hinder but rather should protect and preserve fundamental religious liberties"; and
1.43WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom
1.44Day in 1998 expressed that, we "continue to proclaim the fundamental right of all peoples to believe
1.45and worship according to their own conscience, to affirm their beliefs openly and freely, and to
1.46practice their faith without fear or intimidation."; and
2.1WHEREAS, section 2(a)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, United
2.2States Code, title 22, section 6401(a), states these findings by the Congress: (1) "the right to freedom
2.3of religion undergirds the very origin and existence of the United States;" (2) religious freedom
2.4was established by the Founders of the United States "in law, as a fundamental right and as a pillar
2.5of our Nation"; and (3) "from its birth to this day, the United States has prized this legacy of religious
2.6freedom and honored this heritage by standing for religious freedom and offering refuge to those
2.7suffering religious persecution."; and
2.8WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom
2.9Day in 1999 expressed that, "freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that must be upheld
2.10by every nation and guaranteed by every government."; and
2.11WHEREAS, President George W. Bush in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious
2.12Freedom Day in 2003 expressed that, "religious faith has inspired many of our fellow citizens to
2.13help build a better Nation" in which "people of faith continue to wage a determined campaign to
2.14meet needs and fight suffering."; and
2.15WHEREAS, the principle of religious freedom "has guided our Nation forward" and "is a
2.16universal human right to be protected here at home and across the globe," as expressed by President
2.17Barack Obama in his Presidential Proclamations on Religious Freedom Day in 2011 and 2013,
2.18respectively; and
2.19WHEREAS, in Town of Greece v. Galloway, 134 S. Ct. 1811 (2014), the United States
2.20Supreme Court affirmed that "people of many faiths may be united in a community of tolerance
2.21and devotion."; and
2.22WHEREAS, for countless people of the United States, faith is an integral part of every aspect
2.23of daily life and is not limited to their homes, houses of worship, or doctrinal creeds; and
2.24WHEREAS, the role of religion in United States society and public life has a long and robust
2.25tradition; and
2.26NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
2.27it: (1) on Religious Freedom Day on January 16, 2019, honors the 233rd anniversary of the enactment
2.28of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom; and (2) affirms that: (a) for individuals of any faith
2.29and individuals of no faith, religious freedom includes the right of an individual to live, work,
2.30associate, and worship in accordance with the beliefs of the individual; (b) all people of the State
2.31of Minnesota can be unified in supporting religious freedom, regardless of differing individual
2.32beliefs, because religious freedom is a fundamental human right; and (c) "the American people will
2.33remain forever unshackled in matters of faith," as expressed by President Barack Obama in his
2.34Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom Day in 2012.
2.35BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.36enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.37Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the Minnesota Legislative
2.38Prayer Caucus.
1.2recognizing Religious Freedom Day.
1.3WHEREAS, United States democracy is rooted in the fundamental truth that all people are
1.4created equal, endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and
1.5the pursuit of happiness; and
1.6WHEREAS, the freedom of conscience was highly valued by: (1) individuals seeking
1.7religious freedom who settled in the American colonies; (2) the Founders of the United States; and
1.8(3) Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in his letter to the Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
1.9New London, Connecticut, dated February 4, 1809: "No provision in our Constitution ought to be
1.10dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprizes of the civil
1.11authority."; and
1.12WHEREAS, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was: (1) drafted by Thomas Jefferson,
1.13who considered the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom to be one of his greatest achievements;
1.14(2) enacted on January 16, 1786; and (3) the forerunner to the Free Exercise Clause of the First
1.15Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
1.16WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects: (1) the
1.17right of individuals to express freely and peacefully act on their religious beliefs; and (2) individuals
1.18from coercion to profess or act on a religious belief to which they do not adhere; and
1.19WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson wrote: (1) in 1798, that each right encompassed in the First
1.20Amendment to the United States Constitution is dependent on the other rights described in that
1.21Amendment, "thereby guarding in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of
1.22religion, of speech, and of the press: insomuch, that whatever violated either, throws down the
1.23sanctuary which covers the others;" and (2) in 1822, that the constitutional freedom of religion is
1.24"the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights."; and
1.25WHEREAS, individuals who have studied United States democracy from an international
1.26perspective, such as Alexis de Tocqueville, have noted that religion plays a central role in preserving
1.27the United States Government, because religion provides the moral base required for democracy
1.28to succeed; and
1.29WHEREAS, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a 1935 speech delivered at the University
1.30of Notre Dame, after quoting George Mason's statement from the Virginia Declaration of Rights
1.31that "all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of
1.32conscience" went on to state: "In the conflict of policies and of political systems, which the world
1.33today witnesses, the United States has held forth for its own guidance and for the guidance of other
1.34nations, if they will accept it, this great torch of liberty of human thought, liberty of human
1.35conscience. We will never lower it."; and
1.36WHEREAS, President George H. W. Bush in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious
1.37Freedom Day in 1993 expressed that, religious freedom "has been integral to the preservation and
1.38development of the United States" and "the free exercise of religion goes hand in hand with the
1.39preservation of our other rights."; and
1.40WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his remarks accompanying the signing of the
1.41Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 expressed that, "our laws and institutions should not
1.42impede or hinder but rather should protect and preserve fundamental religious liberties"; and
1.43WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom
1.44Day in 1998 expressed that, we "continue to proclaim the fundamental right of all peoples to believe
1.45and worship according to their own conscience, to affirm their beliefs openly and freely, and to
1.46practice their faith without fear or intimidation."; and
2.1WHEREAS, section 2(a)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, United
2.2States Code, title 22, section 6401(a), states these findings by the Congress: (1) "the right to freedom
2.3of religion undergirds the very origin and existence of the United States;" (2) religious freedom
2.4was established by the Founders of the United States "in law, as a fundamental right and as a pillar
2.5of our Nation"; and (3) "from its birth to this day, the United States has prized this legacy of religious
2.6freedom and honored this heritage by standing for religious freedom and offering refuge to those
2.7suffering religious persecution."; and
2.8WHEREAS, President William Clinton in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom
2.9Day in 1999 expressed that, "freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that must be upheld
2.10by every nation and guaranteed by every government."; and
2.11WHEREAS, President George W. Bush in his Presidential Proclamation on Religious
2.12Freedom Day in 2003 expressed that, "religious faith has inspired many of our fellow citizens to
2.13help build a better Nation" in which "people of faith continue to wage a determined campaign to
2.14meet needs and fight suffering."; and
2.15WHEREAS, the principle of religious freedom "has guided our Nation forward" and "is a
2.16universal human right to be protected here at home and across the globe," as expressed by President
2.17Barack Obama in his Presidential Proclamations on Religious Freedom Day in 2011 and 2013,
2.18respectively; and
2.19WHEREAS, in Town of Greece v. Galloway, 134 S. Ct. 1811 (2014), the United States
2.20Supreme Court affirmed that "people of many faiths may be united in a community of tolerance
2.21and devotion."; and
2.22WHEREAS, for countless people of the United States, faith is an integral part of every aspect
2.23of daily life and is not limited to their homes, houses of worship, or doctrinal creeds; and
2.24WHEREAS, the role of religion in United States society and public life has a long and robust
2.25tradition; and
2.26NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
2.27it: (1) on Religious Freedom Day on January 16, 2019, honors the 233rd anniversary of the enactment
2.28of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom; and (2) affirms that: (a) for individuals of any faith
2.29and individuals of no faith, religious freedom includes the right of an individual to live, work,
2.30associate, and worship in accordance with the beliefs of the individual; (b) all people of the State
2.31of Minnesota can be unified in supporting religious freedom, regardless of differing individual
2.32beliefs, because religious freedom is a fundamental human right; and (c) "the American people will
2.33remain forever unshackled in matters of faith," as expressed by President Barack Obama in his
2.34Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom Day in 2012.
2.35BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.36enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.37Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the Minnesota Legislative
2.38Prayer Caucus.
| Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate | Paul E. GazelkaChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| Dan D. HallState Senator, District 56 |
