SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41
(By Senators Snyder, Kessler, Caldwell, Fanning, Hunter,
Minard,
Rowe, Deem and Weeks)
_______
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary.]
Affirming that religious tolerance is the official policy of the
State of West Virginia.
Whereas, The right to freedom of religion undergirds the very
origin and existence of the United States and the State of West
Virginia; and
Whereas, Freedom of religious belief and practice is a
universal human right and fundamental freedom articulated in
numerous international instruments, including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, the Helsinki Accords, the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based
on Religion or Belief, the Charter of the United Nations and the
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms; and
Whereas, Governments have the responsibility to protect the
fundamental rights of their citizens and to pursue justice for all. Religious freedom is a fundamental right of every individual
regardless of race, sex, country, creed or nationality and should
never be arbitrarily abridged by any government; and
Whereas, The right to freedom of religion is under renewed
and, in some cases, increasing assault in many countries around the
world; and
Whereas, Religious believers in many countries face such
severe and violent forms of religious persecution as detention,
torture, beatings, forced marriage, rape, imprisonment,
enslavement, mass resettlement and death merely for the peaceful
belief in, change of or practice of their faith; and
Whereas, The Legislature denounces acts of religious
persecution; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby affirms that religious tolerance
is the official policy of the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That it is the policy of the State of West
Virginia:
(1) To condemn violations of religious freedom and to promote
and assist other governments in the promotion of the fundamental
right to freedom of religion; and
(2) To be vigorous and flexible, reflecting both the
unwavering commitment of the United States to religious freedom and
the desire of the United States for the most effective and principled response, in light of the range of violations of
religious freedom by a variety of persecuting regimes and the
status of the relations of the United States with different
nations; and
(3) To affirm and protect religious freedom in order to
develop multilateral documents and initiatives to combat violations
of religious freedom and promote the right to religious freedom
abroad; and
(4) To stand for liberty and to stand with the persecuted, to
use and implement appropriate tools, including diplomatic,
political, commercial, charitable, educational and cultural
channels, to promote respect for religious freedom by all
governments and peoples.