Senate Resolution No. 3448

BY: Senator COMRIE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
January 16, 2018, as Religious Freedom Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to ensure that the complete history of
our State and Nation is preserved and shared with the present
generations of citizens; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 16, 2018, as
Religious Freedom Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Religious Freedom Day; and

WHEREAS, The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was signed
January 16, 1786, and is commemorated each year on National Religious
Freedom Day; and

WHEREAS, The statute disestablished the Church of England in
Virginia as the official religion of the state and paved the way for
religious freedom for Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and other
underrepresented religious minorities; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson, who drafted and presented the legislation
to the assembly, considered it to be among his greatest lifetime
achievements; and

WHEREAS, Religious freedom in the United States allows people of all
faiths and denominations, whether popular, mainstream or fringe, to
worship and practice as they wish with few restrictions; and

WHEREAS, Today, our Nation continues to be shaped by people of every
religion and of no religion, bringing us closer to our founding ideals;
as heirs to this proud legacy of liberty, we must remain vigilant in our
efforts to safeguard these freedoms; and

WHEREAS, Religious Freedom Day should be celebrated by all Americans
to teach us about the critical foundation of our Nation's liberty, and
to show us how we can protect it for future generations here and around
the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 16, 2018, as
Religious Freedom Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.