To the editor:

I have recently heard from some authorities that the Founding Fathers consisted primarily of atheists, agnostics and deists. So let us look at what a few of these men said for themselves.

First, let’s start with George Washington who said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” That doesn’t sound like an atheist to me.

What about our third president, Thomas Jefferson? “I concur with the author in considering the moral precepts of Jesus as more pure, correct and sublime than those of ancient philosophers.”

And what about a signer of the Declaration of Independence? Charles Carroll said: “Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure, and which denounces against the wicked eternal misery, and (which) insured to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”

Even Benjamin Franklin, a man considered by many historians to be a deist, said, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.”

As American citizens, it is essential that we be informed about how our Founding Fathers thought if we are to be responsible in our civic duty.