U.S.A.---R.I.P.

My nation is dying.

Let me explain.

What is the United States of America? Yes, it's country music and cowboy boots, hot dogs and hamburgers and football, the melting pot of all races, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

But strictly speaking, politically, the USA is a federal constitutional republic. What this means is that at its base, the United States is formed and held together by a constitution that is interpreted by a federal governing body that is itself governed by a republic. Let's break this down:

1. Formed and held together by a Constitution.

2. The Constitution is interpreted by Federal Government.

3. The Federal Government is checked by the republic, the people, who give the representatives of government their power.

After the War for Independence, the thirteen colonies drafted the Articles of Confederation, but this constitution was impractical and failed. In order to solve the matter once and for all, the Philadelphia Convention was called to draft a new constitution by which the federal government would govern the republic with the power given to them by the republic. In other words, the Constitution was written by the people, for the people.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. (The irony: I have just summarized a whole day's worth of history class in the American education system in one sentence.) And the very first...the very first...is this: (Note that this comes directly from the Constitution:)

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

There's your historical background.

What does this have to do with the death of the United States of America?

The Federal Government has violated the Constitution to which we, the republic, the people, hold them accountable.

On January 23, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement requiring all medical personnel...all doctors...all hospitals...all medical care to provide contraceptives to female patients.

(See here: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/01/20120120a.html)

I have taken a specific portion of this document to analyze specifically.

"After evaluating comments, we have decided to add an additional element to the final rule. Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation. This additional year will allow these organizations more time and flexibility to adapt to this new rule. We intend to require employers that do not offer coverage of contraceptive services to provide notice to employees, which will also state that contraceptive services are available at sites such as community health centers, public clinics, and hospitals with income-based support. We will continue to work closely with religious groups during this transitional period to discuss their concerns."

What this says is that all religious institutions will be forced to comply with this new mandate by August 1, 2013.

Forced.

We will have no choice.

This directly contradicts the very first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America because it forces religious institutions to contradict their doctrinal teachings. Being a proud practicing Catholic, I know that it directly contradicts my teachings and my beliefs. To have my pastor, a devout priest and a wise man, be forced to compromise his morals is outrageous. He and every other citizen of the United States of America has the right to their religious beliefs. It is the Federal Government's responsibility to defend it.

But they won't.

The Obama Administration has supported the HHS and will continue to promote said mandate.

If this mandate is not overturned and religious freedom restored by August 1, 2013, the United States of America, what was once one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, will be dead.

Most Reverend Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr stated in a letter to the entire Archdiocese of Cincinnati that, “People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens.” (see full letter here: http://www.stsusanna.org/Portals/0/Parish%20Office/hhs%20letter.pdf)

Dictionary.com defines a second-class citizen as “a person whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of other people in the same society.” (emphasis added.)

People of faith will be made into second-class citizens if their rights to religious freedom are not observed.

I love America. Yes, it is flawed, but at its heart, I believe it is good. The United States of America is just like a human: (which makes sense considering it is made up of humans) It has its faults. But it also has that quintessential human capacity for redemption. Redemption is at the core of human nature, and I believe we, the people of the United States of America, can redeem it.

We have to. We have to make that choice before that very same choice, the choice of the land of the free, is taken from us. Freedom of religion is dying. And if one amendment dies, they all die.

I love the United States of America.

And unless we act now to overturn this law, then I will have no choice but to mourn its death.

But fortunately, I do have every choice to act against it, and I will not stand silently and watch my nation die. Not so long as the right to fight for my beliefs remains mine. And my rights come from God.