Early in this nation’s history, America was populated by many different faith-based communities, each in search of a place to practice its religion. Initially, there was conflict, but by the time our Founding Fathers were ready to establish an independent nation, the idea of religious tolerance had become deeply ingrained in this brave new country’s design. So much so that when the United States Constitution was ratified, it contained a document known as The Bill of Rights—ten amendments detailing the rights of this country’s citizens. And the very First Amendment states,“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . .” Here lies the foundation of the principle for the separation of state and religion.

Over the past few decades, however, the power of the state has usurped a growing number of rights clearly ascribed to those who wish to practice their faith. This has certainly not gone unnoticed by many religious organizations. As the supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson has taken an active role in highlighting—and protecting against–this ever-growing governmental infringement over fundamental religious freedom. Here in his latest book, These Liberties We Hold Sacred, New York Times best-selling author Carl Anderson has gathered together many of his most thought-provoking speeches, articles, and essays that lay bare the facts of this unjustified restriction of religious beliefs. The power of his words makes it clear that if nothing is done now, there will continue to be more erosion of these special freedoms set forth by our Founding Fathers.

Carl Anderson has a gift for writing eloquently, understandably, and directly. His book These Liberties We Hold Sacred is a call to action to first understand what is happening to our religious and personal freedoms and then do all we can to hold on to these precious rights before more of them slip away.

Carl Anderson is the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus and Vice-President of the American Section of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, where he is a Professor of Family Law. He is the author of the best-selling book A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World, as well as numerous other published works.

Contents

Introduction 1

SECTION 1 Domestic Religious Freedom, Conscience, and Secularism

1. America and Religious Freedom 9

2. The Importance of Christian Witness in America Today 25

3. The Next Great Awakening 33

SECTION 2 International Religious Freedom

4. The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom and Dignitatis Humanae 51

5. Atrocities in Iraq and Syria 64

6. Christians of the Middle East Are a Precious Patrimony of Humanity 69

7. The U.S. Government’s Genocide Recovery and Persecution Response Initiative in Iraq 75

8. To Build a Civilization of Love in the Middle East 80

9. The Christian Witness of Mercy and Forgiveness Is the True Path to Peace in the Middle East 93 Published Articles and Editorials 100

10. The Next Big Threat to Iraq’s Christians 101

11. ISIS Crimes Against Christians Amount to Genocide 104

12. A Year Ago We Declared ISIS Genocidal. Why Are Its Victims Still Waiting for Aid? 107

13. A Mass Christian Exodus from the Middle East Would Be a Catastrophe 111 SECTION 3 Abortion and Respect for Life

14. An Unparalleled Cause 119

15. Compassion and Post-Abortion Response 1

6. The HHS Mandate, Conscience and the Law 137

17. “Adam, Where Are You?” Bioethics and the Unique Dignity of a Human Person 152

18. The Meaning of the Suffering of John Paul II for the Church and the World 161

SECTION 4 Transcending Partisanship

19. MLK’s Example Holds the Answers to Both Racism and Political Violence 176

20. What Every Catholic Can Do to Transcend Partisanship 180

21. The “Catholic Vote” Should Matter After the Election Too 191

22. The Pope of Mercy 195

SECTION 5 Love in Society

23. Which Society? The Love that Generates the Common Good 210

24. The Family Beyond Ideology 228

25. Divorce and the Future of Children 240

26. The Testimony and Presence of Grandparents in the Family in the American Context 262

Endnotes 271

About the Author 000

"Informative, diagnostic, insightful, and form[s] a grateful cushion of hope for the future. Carl Anderson continues to inspire with his speaking, his actions, and his writing. This is a welcome treatise on what can be our future."

"Eloquent, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, These Liberties We Hold Sacred is a welcome contribution to our current national dialogue over the relationship of church and state in America."

"Constituting an impressive collection of speeches, articles, and essays, These Liberties We Hold Sacred is remarkable in its thematic scope. . . Anderson profoundly reiterates what countless Christians, theologians, and laypeople alike, have evidenced throughout the generations: our outward living of Christ’s call to love others as we love ourselves is a balm for a wounded world."