At church yesterday, our congregation celebrated the 4^th of July.  Every church I have belonged to has taken America’s independence very seriously.  Patriotic hymns, special music, and sermons based on the foundation of this Country seem to always take place in Baptist churches.  I wonder if true reflection on the formation and continuation of this experiment in democracy takes place in the hearts and minds of our citizenry.

There is so much that can be written when we consider the truly precious gift of our individual freedoms.  When I think about our Country and the prosperity we enjoy, the first thing I do is thank God for his providence and blessings.  Then I remember, that is exactly what the Founding Fathers did.  Each session of the Continental Congress started with prayer.  Anyone who believes that we would have the freedoms we enjoy without the framer’s trust in God is mistaken.  Luckily we have their writings to reflect on.

President John Adams was commenting on the Constitution when he said:

“Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

President Adams realized that our concept of freedom and liberty must be rooted in something more than just a legalistic view of the language in the Constitution.  Without the moral fiber required of us, the Country will fall apart.  President Adams also cautioned of this outcome:

“Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.”

Prior to the 1940’s, the term “separation of Church and State” was used in just 2 court cases.  In the last 60 years, it has been referenced many, many times.  Maybe you think that the disintegration of the moral fabric of this Country is a normal progression and an acceptable change to a secular government.  I heartily disagree.  I believe we experience problems, social ills, economic troubles, and political discourse because we have, as a whole, turned our collective backs on the principles that made this Country great.  Our Founding Fathers would be disgusted with the America we have created.  Our leadership today is weak. 

I am on the mailing lists of all my congressmen/women.  All I get from them is how wonderful they are.  Their priority is getting re-elected.  It is a shame that “Mr. Smith” no longer is able to go to Washington.  Even if an outlier did make it in, the political parties would never allow real change.  Seniority rules and the requirements of political parties to vote as the leadership dictates, mutes any real and meaningful debate.  You cannot get elected without party assistance and blessing. 

One of the tenants of the recent political campaign by President Obama was a concept of “change.”  The “change” we got with this socialist is not what we need, or what the 65 million of my misguided fellow citizens thought was coming.  Did you know that the socialist didn’t participate in any event on the National Day of Prayer on May 7?  I guess he believes that there is nothing to be gained by participating.  But let’s remember, socialism frowns on religion. 

This march to socialism with President Obama leading the charge has got to stop.  This “change” is not what freedom loving people want.  Protect your rights and speak up when the government steps over their boundaries.  Write your elected representatives.  Express your opinion and be heard.  Get informed and then do something.  Our freedom depends on it!  The two biggest threats to our freedom are ignorance and apathy.  The pastor had a funny joke about these two attributes…A man was walking down the street when he was asked about what needed to change in Washington to make things better.  He answered, I don’t know and I don’t care.  That certainly rings true.

Here is a local story that you probably heard about.  Catholic Priest Alberto Cutié was photographed frolicking on the beach with a WOMAN about a month ago.  Several days after the “incident” became public, Father Cutié went on a national morning show and said he was in love with the woman and he was going to pray about what to do. 

Father Cutié is a popular priest and had TV and radio shows.  It was big news in Miami when this story broke.  Many people speculated that he wanted to get caught so that he could protest the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on priests remaining celibate.  He said in interviews that he did not want to be the poster-boy for changing celibacy rules in the Church.

When Father Cutié was removed from his church, I had the feeling that a public fight of the ability of priests to marry was coming.   Father Cutié took the high road and backed out of the spotlight to contemplate his future. No one heard from him publicly for weeks. 

Today Father Cutié announced that he had joined the Episcopal Church and will get married to the woman he was photographed with.  He looked happy.  I am happy for him.  Not every one is.  The Archbishop of Miami, John Favalora is a little bit miffed and told us so in a statement.  Like an angry child stamping his foot, Favalora fired a couple of shots Father Cutié’s direction.  The most ridiculous was telling us that Father Cutié must remain celibate because “[Father Cutié] is still bound by the promise to live the celibate life which he freely embraced at ordination. Only the Holy Father can release him from the obligation”.  

Ummmm….did he miss the memo that Father Cutié was leaving the Church?  Is this threat supposed to intimidate him?  Father Cutié took his ball and went home.  Elvis has left the building.  Turn out the lights, the party’s over.  I can’t think of any more metaphors, but it clear to me that Favalora doesn’t get to tell Father Cutié what to do anymore.  I hope Father Cutié has a happy and fulfilled life telling the world about the good news that Jesus Christ saves, even if he does it while being married.