Clergy

North Carolina Constitution of 1776

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

North Carolina 1776 Declaration of RightsXIX. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. ConstitutionXXXI. That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function. XXXII. That no person, who shall deny the being of…

New York Constitution of 1777

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New York 1777 Declaring that “the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind,” New York’s Constitution granted broad religious freedom for all faiths, though they included a fascinating clause reassuring the populace that religious freedom couldn’t be used to justify “licentiousness” or disorder. They further banned clergy from serving in public office, a way of preventing a denomination from exerting political control, though the drafters claimed this was to keep the clergy from becoming…

Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price, October 9, 1780

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Benjamin Franklin October 9, 1780 Franklin criticizes the Massachusetts Constitution for allowing religious tests for public office but points out that the state is at least more liberal than it used to be. He also utters the memorable sentiment (shared by Madison, Jefferson and others) that if there is no government support for religion, good faiths will thrive while ineffective ones will decline. I am fully of your Opinion respecting religious Tests; but, tho’ the People of Massachusetts have not…