The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in 1776, which officially declared the separation of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. This pivotal event marked the birth of the United States of America and is celebrated annually with festivities across the nation.
While Independence Day is a secular holiday celebrating the United States' declaration of independence, the Catholic Church in America also recognizes it as an Optional Memorial, urging prayers for the country and its freedoms. Catholics played a significant role in the American Revolution, with figures like Charles Carroll of Carrollton being a prominent Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Church also acknowledges the principles of religious freedom enshrined in the nation's founding, even while recognizing the historical tensions and discrimination faced by Catholics.