http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2007/12/31/the-fragility-of-global-solidarity/ Secularism, religion, and the public sphere Thu, 16 May 2013 19:41:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2007/12/31/the-fragility-of-global-solidarity/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Morris Augustine Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:47:44 +0000 http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2007/12/31/the-fragility-of-global-solidarity/#comment-102 My dear friend and mentor, Bob: Of course your insights are telling and I heartily agree with them. However, as a practicing Catholic, I must admit that I find your words above appear a little too much sectarian. I don’t dispute the importance of what Luther and the other protestant reformers did for a western Christianity that had veered far away from the voice of a gentle Jesus who taught by examples of love and compassion. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church today is not monolithic—however much its Vatican officials, the pope and its bishops blithely claim themselves to be. As millions of informed Catholics completely reject the authoritarianism of the Vatican and the pope, especially as regards birth control—but in general about the papal claim to speak with authority as an totalitarian voice of God on faith or morals—I feel that this large percentage of Christians should not fail to be mentioned in a positive manner. With respect and admiration…

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