I know we try not to mix church and state, or religion and politics - but I wonder if that's actually possible. I think that religion and politics may actually be inextricably intermingled. After all, both are belief systems.

I'm a left-of-center Catholic, and I've been very active in the church all my life. I'm also what you might call a yellow dog Democrat - because that party's policies are more closely aligned with my religious and ethical beliefs. Democrats seem to have far more concern for the poor and underprivileged, and to be against or at least hesitant about war and weapons and capital punishment. I suppose the abortion issue is a touchy one for Catholics, and homosexuality could also be a stumbling block - but these seem to me to be matters of personal decision, and my belief system will not allow me to attempt to control what other people do with their bedrooms or their pregnancies. I would think that progressives in most religious groups would have opinions similar to mine. I suppose we see religion as a framework through which we can pursue and express our ideals, and explore the mysteries of life.

Religious conservatives tend to see religion and a system of rules and beliefs that serve as a framework for living and as answers to life's questions. I think they want religion to provide certainty and security in an uncertain and insecure world. I think religious conservatives tend to be political conservatives - but there are exceptions. Generally, though, I think political conservatives seek the same certainty and security in politics that religious conservatives seek in religion. It seems that many conservatives need uniformity to ensure their security and certainty - so tolerance of diversity is difficult for them, especially if the diversity is within their own church.

In the Catholic Church, a pesky neoconservative movement has steadily gained strength over the 25-year reign of Pope John Paul II. It seems strongest among lay people, but John Paul II has appointed a large number of conservative bishops who are at least sympathetic to the traditionalists. Many of these neoconservatives have dismissed the majority of Catholic priests and nuns as "liberals." Sometimes, it seems they don't quite trust anybody who has had a Catholic education, because they believe Catholic schools are dominated by heretical liberals.

So, it's a problem. I don't think there is a huge difference from one religious group to another - but there is a wide gap between liberals and conservatives, and that gap keeps getting wider.

-Joe Offer-