South Carolina S 333: SC, "First in Religious Liberty Day"

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 333 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 11, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 333

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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A senate 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 Senate:

That the members of the South 
Carolina Senate, 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 11, 2025 at 12:41 PM