Article I, section
4
All persons have a natural and indefeasible right to
worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No
person shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship
against his consent, and no preference shall be given by law to any religious
society, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted.
No religious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any
person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious beliefs; but
nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations.
Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government,
it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass suitable laws to protect every
religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public
worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.
Article VII, section
11
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Constitution,
appropriation of public funds shall not be made to any school or institution of
learning not owned or exclusively controlled by the state or a political
subdivision thereof; PROVIDED, that the Legislature may provide that the state
or any political subdivision thereof may contract with institutions not wholly
owned or controlled by the state or any political subdivision to provide for
educational or other services for the benefit of children under the age of
twenty-one years who are handicapped, as that term is from time to time defined
by the Legislature, if such services are nonsectarian in nature. All public
schools shall be free of sectarian instruction. The state shall not accept money
or property to be used for sectarian purposes; PROVIDED, that the Legislature
may provide that the state may receive money from the federal government and
distribute it in accordance with the terms of any such federal grants, but no
public funds of the state, any political subdivision, or any public corporation
may be added thereto. A religious test or qualification shall not be required of
any teacher or student for admission or continuance in any school or institution
supported in whole or in part by public funds or taxation.
Article VIII, section
2
(2) The Legislature by general law may classify and exempt
from taxation property owned by and used exclusively for agricultural and
horticultural societies and property owned and used exclusively for educational,
religious, charitable, or cemetery purposes, when such property is not owned or
used for financial gain or profit to either the owner or
user.