THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY COHEN, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, MURT, SCAVELLO, SCHMOTZER, STABACK, STURLA, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD AND SWANGER, JUNE 13, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 13, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the year 2012 as "The Year of Religious Diversity"

in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, William Penn, a devout Quaker, offered Pennsylvania

as a "Holy Experiment," where all would be free to practice

their religion in whatever manner they saw fit; and

WHEREAS, William Penn's Declaration of Rights in 1677 assured

that "no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or

support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry

against his consent"; and

WHEREAS, In order to assure that government would abstain

from favoring one religion over another, William Penn also

declared that "no preference shall ever be given by law to any

religious establishment or modes of worship"; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin welcomed all

religions, donated funds to the construction of their churches,

meeting houses and synagogues and further promoted the

construction of an auditorium where all would be welcome to

preach, including Muslims; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is now home to Christians, including

many Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations; Quakers;

Jews of Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reformed

congregations; Mormons; Muslims of Shia, Sunni, Sufi and others;

Unitarians; Buddhists; Hindus; Sikhs; Taoists; and other

religious traditions, as well as many who claim no religious

affiliation and nonbelievers; and

WHEREAS, Among the religious traditions practiced in

Pennsylvania, there are many sacred or holy texts, such as the

books of the Bible, Talmud, Koran, Book of Mormon, Veda,

Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, The Four Books and Five Classics of

Confucius, Tao-te-ching (The Way and Its Power), Tipitaka and

others; and

WHEREAS, These revered books impart great wisdom and beauty

to believers and are appreciated and respected by nonbelievers

as well; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

celebrate the religious diversity encompassed by Pennsylvania as

a fulfillment of the vision of William Penn; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

year 2012 as "The Year of Religious Diversity" throughout this

Commonwealth and continue to welcome all to Pennsylvania in the

spirit of our founder.