Constitution of Virginia
Article I - Bill of Rights
Section 16. Free exercise of religion; no
establishment of religion.
That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the
manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction,
not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally
entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates
of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice
Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. No
man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship,
place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained,
molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall 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
diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. And the General
Assembly 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 Commonwealth, to levy
on themselves or others, any tax for the erection or repair of
any house of public worship, or for the support of any church
or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select
his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private
contract as he shall please.