"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor."

— President George Washington, Oct. 3, 1789

As we prepare to celebrate the 237th anniversary of the United States of America on July 4, I think it is appropriate to note the words of our first president and recall that our Founding Fathers all held the belief that religion and morality were integral to society.

It is perhaps even more vital that we note this now, given our country’s polarizing culture wars, which include:

• the movement to redefine marriage;
• the decision by the government, with its HHS mandate, to force good people and organizations to act against their wills and consciences by paying for abortion and contraception in their health-care plans; and
• the relativism and modernism that continue to dumb down society by propagating the lie that there is no objective truth, when we know that there is.

Our politicians and civic leaders would do well to remember additional words by our first president, a deist, who said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them."

We as Catholic citizens hold fast to the ideals held by our country’s founders. Although they were not Catholic (save Charles Carroll), they all believed in objective morality and in the providential nature of our country’s founding, and they fought to ensure that future generations of Americans would remember this — and build a country where all could live in freedom.

God bless you!