"I'm glad you brought up hellfire, "
May not be as strong a feature with the younger generation, but very much alive and kicking with the older one - it seems perverse in the extreme to defend a Church that has thrived on fear by suggesting that it can now be ignored - sort of like malaria, which has supposedly been conquored, but is still doing the rounds - particularly in the poorer countries, where the divine right of the church reigns supreme alongside of the Zika virus.
Even here, the Church believes itself influential enough on issues such as education, same-sex marriage and pregnancy termination to issue threats and affect political decisions.
It remains to be seen what will happen when and if a future Government gets round to altering the constitution on religious influence - hope I'm around to buy tickets for that one.
It shouldn't be a case of "ignoring" a constant threat in your midst - it has to be permanently removed as a threat or it remains what it is - couldn't help noticing the "largely ignored" bit - ok to let the others go on and have children they can't afford and don't necessarily want
If that happens in the 'enlightened' U.S., explain away what is happening in the poorer countries, where these issues are killing people in their many thousands - a bit smug to claim "largely ignored" - sort of 'ding-ding, we're on the bus'
The church, in these matters has become a lethal threat and if it continues, some bright spark is going to recognise it as a human rights issue - that's when 'pro life' will move from being a spiritual propaganda campaign to doing what it says on the tin.
I confess, I didn't know about your laudable 'Nuns on the Bus' campaign so I looked it up.
"Led by Sister Simone Campbell, they place emphasis on the church's long-standing commitment to social justice"
I wish them every success, but if your church only had a "long-standing commitment to social justice" instead of it's inbuilt support for repression, injustice and inequality, there really wouldn't be a need for such acts of rebellion.
COULDN'T HELP NOTICING THE REACTION
Jim Carroll