Remembering the '60s; Praying for America

Polls are closing in Hawaii about now. I thought it would be a good idea to pray for America, specifically for a restoration of the right of Americans to act as if faith matters.

At this moment, it appears that President Obama will have another four years as America's chief executive. Considering his attempts to take control of religious practices in my native country, I'm not happy about 'four more years.'

'The Good Old Days' - Weren't

On the other hand, I remember 'the good old days:' and they weren't. As I said earlier this year:

"...a half-century ago, America was being run by folks who were desperately clinging to the worst of a set of ideas that had been more popular in their youth.

"Today, America is being run by folks who are desperately clinging to daft ideas that were more popular in their youth. It's another set of people, with another set of ideas: but I see the same general pattern...."
(February 12, 2012)

I think America is going through a change as massive as what happened in the '60s. It will, I think, be a distressing time. I also think we have a good chance of doing a better job this time:

• "HHS Mandate, Catholic Bishops, and Foster Auditorium"
  (February 12, 2012)
• " 'Uncle Knows Best?' HHS Mandate, Religious Freedom, and Presidential Approval"
  (March 16, 2012)
  • Current Events and Getting a Grip
  • Change Happens
  • Looking at the Big Picture

Litany For Liberty

I found "Litany for Liberty," a prayer used during Fortnight for Freedom.

I'll be praying that litany in a few minutes. No pressure, but prayer couldn't hurt.

• Litany for Liberty
  For use during the Fortnight for Freedom (2012)
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
  A prayer from Collect for the Mass "For the Progress of the Peoples,"
  Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, No. 29, (Roman Missal, Third Edition)
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-prayer-resources.cfm (November 6, 2012))
• Letanía por la Libertad
  Para uso durante la Quincena por la Libertad (2012)
  Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-prayer-resources.cfm (November 6, 2012))
• Panalangin para sa Malayang Pananampalataya / Prayer for Religious Liberty
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-prayer-resources.cfm (November 6, 2012))
• Mary Immaculate - Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the United States of America
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/english-immaculate-conception-religious-liberty-prayer.pdf June 14, 2012))
• María Inmaculada - Patrona de Nuestro País
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/spanish-immaculate-conception-religious-liberty-prayer.pdf (June 14, 2012))
• Our Lady of Guadalupe - Our Lady is the Patroness of all the Americas -- and also of our unborn brothers and sisters
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/english-guadalupe-religious-liberty-prayer.pdf (June 14, 2012))  
• Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/spanish-guadalupe-liberty-prayer.pdf (June 14, 2012))
• St. Thomas More - St. Thomas More is the Patron of Religious Freedom
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/english-st-thomas-more-religious-liberty-prayer.pdf (June 14, 2012))  
• Santo Tomás Moro - Patrón de las Libertades Religiosas
  (from http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/spanish-st-thomas-more-religious-liberty-prayer.pdf (June 14, 2012))

If some of that list of prayers looks familiar, everything from "Mary Immaculate" down is from:

• "Fortnight for Freedom Starts Tomorrow: Online Resources"
  (June 20, 2012)

Related posts:

• "An Election, Citizenship, and Expectations"
  (November 4, 2012)
• "An 'Objective Moral Order' "
  (November 4, 2012)
  Particularly
  • America isn't Perfect
• "Conscience, Natural Law, and Religious Liberty"
  (July 4, 2012)
• " '...A Time to Stand Up' "
  (June 27, 2012)
• "John Fisher, Thomas More, and the Big Picture"
  (June 22, 2012)