Page:The Constitution of West Virginia ratified in 1872.pdf/9

 [Art.3, Sec.15]

Religious Freedom Guaranteed

15. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsover; nor shall any man be enforced, restrained, molested or burthened, in his body or goods, or otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and, by argument, to maintain their opinions in matters of religion; and the same shall,in nowise, affect, diminish or enlarge their civil capacities; and the Legislature shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this State, to levy on themselves, or others, any tax for the erection or repair of any house for public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry, but it shall be left free for every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contracts as he shall please.

Voluntary Contemplation, Meditation or Prayer In Schools

15a. Public schools shall provide a designated brief time at the beginning of each school day for any student desiring to exercise their right to personal and private contemplation, meditation or prayer. No student of a public school may be denied the right to personal and private contemplation, meditation or prayer nor shall any student be required or encouraged to engage in any given contemplation, meditation or prayer as a part of the school curriculum.

[This section was proposed by Senate Joint Resoultion No. 1, Acts, Regular Session, 1984, p. 1123; and ratified November 6, 1984. Vote on the amendment: For ratification, 511,057; Against ratification, 145,835; Majority, 365,222 (unofficial).]

Right of Public Assembly Held Inviolate

16. The right of the people to assemble in a peaceable manner, to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives, or to apply for redress of grievances, shall be held inviolate.