Dear Brother Knights:
Happy New Year! “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” is a title given by Saint Pope John Paul II to one of his major literary works. Many Americans feel that there is reason to believe that just such a “threshold of hope” for our country and its citizens of faith may be reached and crossed in the year A.D. 2017. One reason for this hope is that the recent election was won by a presidential candidate who pledged to nominate to the Supreme Court only judges committed to interpreting the Constitution in accord with the intent of the Framers. Over a span of decades a gradual crossing of the lines of separation of powers between the judicial, legislative and executive branches has seriously compromised the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances with equally serious consequences. Added to the intrusion of the various branches into one another’s spheres of competence we’ve suffered an over extension and intrusion of Federal regulations and mandates into domains rightfully reserved by the Constitution to the states and local communities. Among the many consequences of this dysfunctional behavior of the three branches of federal government are government regulations imposed upon religious freedom as we have always known, understood and practiced it in America. America, one nation under God, has been given an opportunity to clean up its act in accord with God’s Commandments and the wise counsels of the founders of our nation and framers of its Constitution. So yes, we do have reason to have some hope in this new year. We may well be on the threshold of hope that springs eternal. Hoping to see you often during the coming year, and wishing you God’s blessing.
Msgr. Ed Surwilo, Council Chaplain