Foreword

By Archbishop Alexander Sample

The following report identifies a number of events that have already shaped and will continue to shape—in both good ways and bad ways—the life of this country for years to come. An act from 2025 that does not appear in the report, but which I believe will prove to be of lasting significance, is the November 11 decision of the U.S. bishops to celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the United States of America by consecrating the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration will take place at the conclusion of June plenary assembly of the U.S. bishops, which coincides with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart and enthrone the Sacred Heart in our homes, we recognize the kingship of Christ and offer our own lives in service to God and our neighbors.

This is an opportune time to carry out this consecration. While there were positive developments for religious liberty in the past year, there have been worrying developments as well.

Perhaps most concerning is the ongoing rise in political violence. The polarization the bishops have long lamented seems to be breaking out into serious attacks. Antisemitic sentiment and rhetoric in mainstream institutions appears to be increasing. Furthermore, the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has led to fears about going to church, driving down Mass attendance and leading some bishops to dispense the faithful from their Sunday obligation. Too much of our national life is marked by enmity and strife. 

To be sure, there were positive developments for religious liberty too. In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump created a Religious Liberty Commission, which several of my brother bishops serve as either members or advisors. The president also issued an executive order that directs federal agencies to repeal rules that prevent religious organizations from fully participating in programs that serve the common good. Congress passed a bill that, while deficient in many respects, included a provision that has the potential to open up one of the largest expansions of school choice we have seen. And the Supreme Court issued rulings that protect parental rights and curtail the spread of gender ideology.

All of these developments are taking place as Americans prepare to celebrate two hundred fifty years as in independent nation. It is a fitting time to reflect on the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and how those ideals have shaped the unique culture that has grown over the past two-and-a-half centuries. For Catholics, it is an opportunity to reflect on how the Church has enriched American life.

As we practice the “pious custom” of consecrating our nation to the Sacred Heart,[1] we do so with the confidence that the Lord will pour out his grace on the United States. And with that confidence, we resolve to do our part in carrying out the task of “perfecting the temporal order with the spirit of the gospel.”[2] May this report on the state of religious liberty in the United States aid us in that task.

[1] See Quas primas, no. 26.

[2] Apostolicam actuositatem, 2.