Thursday, January 1, 2009

Connecticut Constitution - Recognizes the Good Providence of God

The Preamble of the Constitution of Connecticut says:

"The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government; do, in order more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors; hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following constitution and form of civil government."

Found at Megalaw

According to Harbornet, the original version also included this phrase:

"No preference shall be given by law to any Christian sect or mode of worship."

Note that discrimination was prohibited among Christian sects.

Connecticut, our Constitution State, has a very religious background. It was a group of Baptists in CT who wrote to Thomas Jefferson, fearing they would be discriminated against. Jefferson wrote back his famous (recently, anyway) letter of reassurance that talked about a wall of separation. But also, according to Wikipedia,

Connecticut was originally founded by Congregationalists who split away from the Massachusetts colony between 1635 and 1636. The first settlers founded three towns on the Connecticut river in Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. One of the main purposes of the Fundamental Orders was to formalize the relationship between these three towns. The core foundation of the Fundamental Orders incorporates the ingrained religious background of the colony’s founders. They called for “an orderly and decent government according to God” in attempts to pursue “The liberty and purity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” Until 1818, the Congregational Church stood as the established church of the state. All Connecticut residents were required to attend church and/or pay taxes to support the Congregational faith. Anyone belonging to another Christian sect such as Baptist, Episcopal, or Quaker, had to provide documentation signed by a church officer indicating attendance and financial support of their separate church in order to avoid paying taxes to the Congregationalists.

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