Religion and State 1985 General Resolution

WHEREAS, the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"; and

WHEREAS, Article VI of the US Constitution states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States"; and

WHEREAS, the United States is a pluralistic society committed to the separation of church and state; and

WHEREAS, there have been recent efforts by some individuals and religious organizations to identify this country and its government with religious doctrines and the Unitarian Universalist Association has deplored and condemned such activities that link government policies and actions at the federal, state and local levels and doctrines of specific religions;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1985 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association reaffirms its commitment to religious liberty and religious pluralism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this Assembly urges individual Unitarian Universalists and member societies of the Association in the United States to make manifest their commitment to the separation of church and state by launching a sustained campaign, in cooperation with the other like-minded organizations, in the following areas, at the federal, state, and/or local level, to:

  1. Oppose all direct or indirect use of public funds to aid sectarian private schools;
  2. Oppose all deviations from religious neutrality in public schools such as government mandated or regimented devotions; the intrusion of sectarian doctrines, such as "creationism," in science classes; "equal access" plans for religious activities in public schools; proselytizing in public schools by either school personnel or outside adults;
  3. Oppose United States diplomatic relations with any religious body;
  4. Oppose all official or unofficial tests for public office, including efforts to label particular parties or candidates as having the proper or improper religious stance.