H 4858 Concurrent Resolution, By Meacham, Allison, Bailey, Barrett, Battle, 
J.M. Baxley, Beck, Bowers, H. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Canty, 
Easterday, Edge, Fleming, Hamilton, Hinson, Inabinett, Kelley, Klauber, Koon, 
Leach, Lloyd, Martin, Mason, McCraw, Neilson, Seithel, Simrill, D. Smith, 
Townsend, Walker, Whatley, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young-Brickell
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR
 RATIFICATION AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE
 EXERCISE OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN PUBLIC PLACES.

   03/24/98  House  Introduced HJ-4
   03/24/98  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-5

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT AND SUBMIT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE EXERCISE OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN PUBLIC PLACES.

Whereas, the United States of America was founded by men and women with varied but strong religious beliefs; and

Whereas, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states, in part, that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .", and that means that the government is prohibited from establishing an official religion, and also that no barriers shall be erected against the practice of any religion; and

Whereas, the establishment clause of the First Amendment was not drafted to protect Americans from religion; rather, its purpose was clearly to protect Americans from governmental control over religion; and

Whereas, the federal courts have erected barriers to the exercise of freedom of religion in public places, including rulings against prayer in public schools, against the presence of the Ten Commandments in public schools, against moments of silence in public schools, against prayer at public school graduations, and restricting displays of religious symbols on public property, even during holidays; and otherwise have misconstrued the intent of the First Amendment; and

Whereas, the United States Constitution specifies a remedy, namely by amendments to the Constitution; and

Whereas, over one hundred fifty members of the United States House of Representatives are supporting a solution, by sponsoring House Joint Resolution 78, the Religious Freedom Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina strongly believe that reaffirming a right to voluntary and nonmandated expressions of religion in public places is an important element of the religious freedom of this country; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina also strongly believe that the members of the Congress of the United States should enact the House Joint Resolution 78, the proposed Religious Freedom Amendment now pending before the Congress, and to submit the same to the states for ratification. Now, therefore.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact and submit to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow the exercise of freedom of religion in public places.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.