Declaration of Independence

Remarks delivered by Eric Patterson at Catholic University of America on Sept. 13th, 2022 on HR 1009.

A Patriotic Review of The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism, InterVarsity Press, 2022.

King recognized that for nations, as for individuals, the measure of goodness is not perfection, but rather direction. America was born headed in the right direction—and continues to build a “more perfect union” dreamed up by imperfect men.

Delight in your family and community and boldly have a very happy Independence Day.

Formal religious adherence is declining, but America’s longtime religious self-identity as a lodestar of democratic responsibility in the world continues unabashed.

Nationalists believe that humanity is divided into mutually distinct, internally coherent groups defined by shared traits like language, religion, or culture, and that these groups should each have their own governments. There is an alternative.

It is interesting to reflect when a topic bursts into public view and comes to dominate public discussion: Why nationalism now?

The most profound and powerful reasons for religious freedom are Christian reasons, and they extend not only to Christians but to all people. In my view this means that there is also a deep theological warrant for international religious freedom.

After centuries of declarations upholding the importance of religious freedom, why are we still issuing declarations?