SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41

(By Senators Snyder, Kessler, Caldwell, Fanning, Hunter,

Minard, Rowe, Deem and Weeks)

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[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.