South Carolina H 4036: SC, "First in Religious Liberty Day"

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4036 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 19, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4036

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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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This web page was last updated on February 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM