As the United States commemorates the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of its founding, I have been reflecting on the virtue of patriotism. I want to share a few comments about why patriotism is one of these essential virtues, and what kind of love of country is worthy of a Catholic man.
Let me begin with a claim that might surprise you: patriotism is not, first and foremost, a political virtue. It is a religious one. It flows from the Fourth Commandment, honor your father and mother, and it can rightly be understood as a form of familial love extended outward.
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