American Family Project began its activities in 2021 convinced that in order to help the family, members of Congress must realize that all the laws they enact and the money they authorize has ramifications for American families. Four years into this, we are convinced that a profound shift in outlook is needed by the voters of America and the members of Congress alike.
The best instrument for families to flourish is our own Constitution as written by our Founders. Unfortunately, the majority of people on Capitol Hill do not think constitutionally. Yes, there is some consideration whether new legislation will pass muster with the Supreme Court but few have a devotion to the Constitution.
To foster this devotion to the Constitution, we recommend The American Republic by Orestes Brownson. Brownson regarded the Constitution as Providential, i.e. our founders and framers were secondary causes with God as the primary cause. Our written constitution has survived longer than any other because it harmonizes with the American spirit and incorporates only universal principles in the service of the common good.
We are convinced that nothing will change in Congress, particularly with respect to the family, until a large majority of the voting population insists on this type of constitutional devotion.
While we continue working with the Congressional Family Caucus and the staff assigned to the caucus, we have expanded our mission to promoting the thought of Orestes Brownson as an integral part of being A Voice for the Family on Capitol Hill.
In June, 2024, we sponsored the symposium Orestes Brownson and the Future of American Constitutionalism. We inaugurated an Orestes Brownson Essay Contest for undergraduates and the winners of the eight cash prizes will be decided in April, 2026. We are co-sponsoring, with The Catholic University of America, a retrospective of Brownson’s thought in April, 2026 marking the 150th anniversary of his death. We have started a substack, Brownson’s Occasional Blog (be sure to subscribe) and a book for high school students summarizing Brownson’s thought – sort of a civics catechism – is also in the works.
This is a project with tremendous impact for the future of our country that will take generations to achieve but will eventually lead to more personal responsibility from voters and our elected representatives, return of power from private interests to We the People and a restoration of strong families producing an abundance of thoughtful and prayerful citizens.
We look forward to your support in these initiatives.