In the Heat of Current Controversies over Religious Freedom, It Is Rarely Noted That the Churches, and Particularly the Catholic Church, Have Been the Guardians of Social Order and Even of Pluralism

Mills, David, First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life

In the heat of current controversies over religious freedom, it is rarely noted that the churches, and particularly the Catholic Church, have been the guardians of social order and even of pluralism. The churches have been reticent to impose their views on others--the Catholic bishops have not even suggested making contraception illegal--and quick to extend their services to anyone who needs them.

But there are limits. And not just when the state tries to make the churches do things they can't do. Sometimes it tells them not to do things they have to do.

Alabama's immigration law, still unsettled, "makes it illegal for a Catholic priest to baptize, hear the …

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Publication information: Article title: In the Heat of Current Controversies over Religious Freedom, It Is Rarely Noted That the Churches, and Particularly the Catholic Church, Have Been the Guardians of Social Order and Even of Pluralism. Contributors: Mills, David - Author. Magazine title: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life. Issue: 225 Publication date: August-September 2012. Page number: 70. © 2009 Institute on Religion and Public Life. COPYRIGHT 2012 Gale Group.

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