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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE CHURCH-STATE RELATIONSHIP APPENDIX II MARYLAND CONSTITUTIONS: DECLARATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION; PROVISO OF BELIEF IN A DEITY The Present Constitution Art. 36. That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry; nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor either in this world or in the world to come.174 1867 Constitution Basically the same as the present, with minor changes in punctuation (comma after "ought" in line 4; no comma after "persuasion" in line 6; no comma after "maintain" in line 11; no comma after "worship" in line 13). 1864 Constitution Basically the same as the present, with the same minor changes noted above (except that, as in the present Constitution, there is no comma after "ought" in line 4). 1851 Constitution (Article 33); basically the same as the present, with the same minor changes noted above (except that there is a comma after "ought" in line 4). 1776 Constitution 33. That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice; unless under colour of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others, in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any particular place of worship, or any particular ministry; 174 p. 48. 41 |
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Constitutional Revision Study Documents of the Constitutional Convention Commission, 1968
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