HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	92
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING JULY AS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MONTH IN HAWAII.

     WHEREAS, religious conflict is one of the most dangerous social conditions in the world, and religiously motivated violence is a threat to world peace and economic stability; and

     WHEREAS, during a time of increasing religious strife, it is important to build public awareness and support for religious freedom and to learn to live together despite religious differences; and

     WHEREAS, religious freedom recognizes the right of each person to determine their own religion, or lack thereof, the right to associate and assemble together for public worship, and the right to change one's belief; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is the melting pot for many different cultures and religions and serves as an appropriate venue for the Hawaii Festival of Religious Freedom (Festival); and

     WHEREAS, the Festival is a joint effort by the Hawaii Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Liberty magazine, North American Religious Liberty Association, and the International Religious Liberty Association; and

     WHEREAS, some of the Festival's goals include:

     (1)  Building public awareness and support for religious liberty;

     (2)  Bringing civic, political, and faith leaders together to foster greater mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation; and

     (3)  Promoting the aloha spirit of religious freedom internationally;

and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's 2008 Festival, one of many being planned around the world, will be held in July; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature recognizes July as "Religious Freedom Month in Hawaii"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages religious freedom among all of Hawaii's people; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Senior Pastor of the Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist Church.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MONTH IN HAWAII