Bill Text: MS HC93 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Religious beliefs; recognize diversity of and affirm that they should not be misused to violate the fundamental human rights of other persons.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-04-21 - Died In Committee [HC93 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-HC93-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Patterson
House Concurrent Resolution 93
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PHILOSOPHICAL OUTLOOKS AND AFFIRMING THAT NO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SHOULD BE MISUSED TO VIOLATE THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF OTHER PERSONS.
WHEREAS, recognizing the diversity of religious beliefs and philosophical outlooks in our state, we have come together to unite around our universal and common desire to uphold and uplift each other as neighbors and fellow human beings and to affirm and support the following statement against extremism, terror and violence done in the name of religion; and
WHEREAS, our global society is facing an escalating epidemic of religiously-motivated violence that seeks to manipulate and control people through terror and intimidation; and
WHEREAS, we speak out against all extremist groups who distort religious beliefs to inflame regimes of fear and agendas of destruction for their own self-serving purposes; and
WHEREAS, we reject the use of religious and spiritual traditions to justify the abuse, oppression and exploitation of human beings; and
WHEREAS, we understand that the practice of religion is to honor, respect and love our fellow sisters and brothers as we would ourselves; and
WHEREAS, we understand religious extremism to be the process whereby individuals or communities reject the civil discourse and instead use violence and terror as a means of forcing political and social change, employing religious and theological resources to justify their destructive actions; and
WHEREAS, life, liberty, dignity and security are fundamental human rights for every single person; and
WHEREAS, no human being, or group of persons should be subjected to violence or discrimination on the basis of any physical or social distinction including violence or discrimination that is motivated and justified by religious beliefs, and in this regard, all human beings should be considered as equal and free members of one human family and treated with respect and compassion; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to ensure that the rights and privileges afforded by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution are not compromised or usurped by any person, organization or entity, as well as protecting every religious and philosophical perspective with equal treatment of the law from those factions which seek to persecute and antagonize others for holding a particular belief:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby affirm and advocate for fundamental human rights, as described above and as protected by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially in the First Amendment with regard to freedom of religion and freedom of speech, to be applied to all persons, and we furthermore affirm and advocate that no religious freedom should be misused to violate the fundamental human rights of other persons.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we affirm and believe that a free, independent, fair, and ethically responsible media is an indispensable prerequisite for a free and peaceful society, and that threatening the free and unencumbered exchange of ideas through terror, violence, fear and intimidation undermines the marketplace of ideas and denies the equal opportunity for religious communities and human life to flourish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we affirm and encourage learning about different faith traditions and practices in all areas of society and for all persons, so that everyone can be well-informed about the history and ideas of religions, in order to have greater mutual understanding and cooperation among civically engaged citizens.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we affirm and advocate for positive religious values as an antidote to religious extremism, and that we seek to offer hospitality, empathy and care to all people in order to build stronger and more open societies that celebrate all persons as being equal members of the human family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
