Independence Day - the United State of America

Taking a break (again) from my current series on the creed, I wanted to post something today (it being Independence Day).

I would like to make the following disclaimer before beginning. I am an American. I am glad to be an American in the modern day (where, at least, I am allowed to practice my religion ... which is a great deal better than I would get in China or Vietnam or the Middle East). In no way do I wish to be disobedient to the authority of the United States nor of the state of Louisiana, the temporal authorities which God has placed over me. For that matter, I am proud to be an American citizen. I really do love this country. That being said...

The original break with Great Britain was not legitimate (which is not to say that the current authority is not legitimate ... I believe it is, as I will explain later). The idea of the American Revolution was based in the idea that the populace had the right to overthrow its government if it was not abiding by the "social contract." Locke's social contract theory, however, has been condemned by the Church (for good reason). Locke's social contract theory is based in the idea that authority comes from the governed ... but authority does not come from the governed. Governmental authority comes from God. Locke criticized of the divine right of kings ... but Locke was wrong in this. When Jesus is being tried by Pontius Pilate, He says that Pilate would have no authority over Him, if it had not come from His Father first. Also, He says to give to Caesar what is Caesars. St. Peter and St. Paul both write about the need to respect the temporal authorities God places over us. Locke was wrong.

Because of this, the American colonists had no right to rebel against the authority of the English throne. However, they did.

Now, to explain why I now believe that the current United States is a legitimate government. Following the War of 1812, the U.S. had very few conflicts with Britain ... certainly none on the score of a war. Indeed, the British government recognized our independence. The first time the British government did this was at the Treaty of Paris, and it has since reaffirmed this recognition. Great Britain is, today, the closest ally of the United States in foreign affairs. Basically, Great Britain has granted the United States its request for independence. (NOTE: I do not believe the request for independence to be illegitimate ... I believe that the American Revolution was not a legitimate means to that end.) Since Great Britain has now granted this request, I recognize the authority of the American government as a legitimate authority.

In closing, I ask for the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the souls of those who have died defending the United States, as well as all (both from the Union and the Confederacy) who died in the Civil War. I pray that God might lead our nation into the glory of the future ... to a peace that only God can bring and to a hope for eternal salvation that only He bring. I pray that we now, and forevermore will, remain One Nation Under God.

Pax Christi Tecum,
Joe