1Recognizing the year 2013 as "The Year of Religious Diversity"
2in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, William Penn, a devout Quaker, offered Pennsylvania
4as a "Holy Experiment," where all would be free to practice
5their religion in whatever manner they saw fit; and

6WHEREAS, William Penn's Declaration of Rights in 1677 assured
7that "no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or
8support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry
9against his consent"; and

10WHEREAS, In order to assure that government would abstain
11from favoring one religion over another, William Penn also
12declared that "no preference shall ever be given by law to any
13religious establishment or modes of worship"; and

14WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin welcomed all
15religions, donated funds to the construction of their churches,
16meeting houses and synagogues and further promoted the

1construction of an auditorium where all would be welcome to
2preach, including Muslims; and

3WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is now home to Christians, including
4many Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations; Quakers;
5Jews of Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reformed
6congregations; Mormons; Muslims of Shia, Sunni, Sufi and others;
7Unitarians; Buddhists; Hindus; Sikhs; Taoists; and other
8religious traditions, as well as many who claim no religious
9affiliation and nonbelievers; and

10WHEREAS, Among the religious traditions practiced in
11Pennsylvania, there are many sacred or holy texts, such as the
12books of the Bible, Talmud, Koran, Book of Mormon, Veda,
13Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, The Four Books and Five Classics of
14Confucius, Tao-te-ching (The Way and Its Power), Tipitaka and
15others; and

16WHEREAS, These revered books impart great wisdom and beauty
17to believers and are appreciated and respected by nonbelievers
18as well; therefore be it

19RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
20celebrate the religious diversity encompassed by Pennsylvania as
21a fulfillment of the vision of William Penn; and be it further

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
23year 2013 as "The Year of Religious Diversity" throughout this
24Commonwealth and continue to welcome all to Pennsylvania in the
25spirit of our founder.