One has to admit that there is something terribly sad in witnessing such a chilling scandal for the Catholic Church on the most sacred of days for the church. One need not be religious to recognize the pathos of this situation. The Easter celebration has none of the commercialism of the Christmas season and comes at a time in the northern hemisphere when we need it, after winter has passed, and one could not have had a more beautiful Easter weekend in the Washington area. I certainly do not intend to pile onto this problem, but it seems an opportune moment to reflect on one good thing about the kind of culture that the United States is trying to offer to the world through its example: transparency.
If you risk the cherry blossom crowds and fight your way to the Jefferson memorial, you will find the following words to your back and right:
Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens . . . are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion . . . No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion
This kind of commitment to transparency, even Read the rest of this entry »
Confrontations 