Greed symptom of moral breakdown

While The Herald’s editorial of Jan. 4 on greed in our financial system was excellent, the last sentence focused on the real problem; “But if one’s moral compass doesn’t exclude greed, it’s broken.” Greed is but a symptom of the breakdown in morality in much of our society.

George Washington, the father of our country, said in his farewell address, “Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports and let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” John Adams, founding father and our second president, stated that “morality and religion are essential for a democratic government to endure.”

Greed is not the only symptom manifested by the loss of our moral compass. The three fastest growing businesses in America are gambling, pornography and illegal drugs. Ann Graham, Billy Graham’s daughter, was asked why God had turned his back on us. Her answer was “He didn’t turn his back on us, we walked away from him.” The secular progressives have succeeded in taking prayer out of our schools. They are determined to see “In God We Trust” removed from our currency, “so help me God” taken out of our oaths of office and “under God” removed from the pledge of allegiance. This, as well as the “Ten Commandments” being chiseled off the walls of our public institutions.

The Christian founders who formed this nation built tolerance into our Bill of Rights. Ironically, those of us who are Christians are not being extended the same consideration from those who came later into our society. If we want to reverse the further breakdown of morality we better get back to our religious roots and resist the assault by the liberal progressives and activist judges.

Robert Johnston