Exiit qui seminar - Happy 4th July
This Sunday, we, as a nation, celebrate our 245th birthday. One of the greatest hallmarks of our constitutional federal republic is the free establishment and free exercise clause of religion guaranteed in the United States Constitution. In fact, the First Amendment mentions religion first, before the concepts of free speech, freedom of the press and the right to peaceably assemble. Many of the earliest colonists came to the New World to escape religious persecution and to find a place to call home and to pray. Catholics established Maryland as a refuge, but it was short lived. Even though Maryland passed a tolerance act in 1649, Catholics were forced out of the Maryland legislature less than a decade later and Catholics faced serious religious persecution. Today, we still come face to face with anti-Catholic legislation and discrimination in a world that proports inclusivity and acceptance. Many still would argue that faith in general and Catholicism in particular have no place in the public square. And while it is true that we shouldn't politicize our faith, we are still meant to live it and not compartmentalize it away due to societal pressures and demands. In addition, we also can't fall into the trap that the media is trying to bait the Church into by creating a false narrative about what we, as the Church, are called to do and be. While it is a daunting task to be Catholic in a world that is not, we rely on the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Sacraments to strengthen our faith and our resolve to do God's will. So as we celebrate the birthday of our still great nation, let us give thanks to God that we have the ability to worship Him as we should and let us continue to be vigilant in protecting our faith and the faith of our brothers and sisters. Happy 4th of July!
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Rob Sinatra
