A prayer by George Washington:

Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Abraham Lincoln once said, ““I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.””  And, he penned this prayer:

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It is well that we pray the same, share these prayers with others, and add our own.

As we prepare to vote for the future leadership of our country, let us remember the ways in which freedom of religion has been attacked over the last few years and that Catholics have been especially targeted for fundamental belief in the sanctity of life.  The right of religious people to assemble has been infringed and prayers for the protection of life and dignity for all persons have been mocked. 

It does seem odd that so many people do not embrace the sanctity of life but readily support the taking of life for almost any reason.  Perhaps they do not realize that, when they accept the taking of the life of an unborn child, that acceptance leads inevitably to violence against our children in schools, shooting each other in the streets and in our homes, and calls for assisted suicide and euthanasia.  By such acts, the perpetrators view their actions as ridding society of lives that they consider without value. 

It should be clear that, when life is not respected in all stages and conditions of life, it is not respected in any stage or condition of life.

Let our mantra be that we respect the life and dignity of all persons in all stages of life, in all conditions, and in all circumstances, from conception to natural death. 

Let us demand no less from our leaders when we vote.