Obama believes that religious viewpoints are an integral part of public debate
The Pope’s visit was, perhaps not too surprisingly, met with a significant degree of cynicism and suspicion here in Britain—particularly by those on the left. This was in large part due to a deep-seated unwillingness of many left-wing politicians and social commentators to acknowledge the power of faith in people’s lives. Yet the visit of Benedict XVI may well end up prompting those who espouse a so-called “progressive” political agenda to debate just how to reconcile faith with our modern, pluralistic democracy.
Britain is not alone in struggling with this issue. In the US Barack Obama has often argued that his own party has been reluctant to engage in serious debate about the issue of religion. Speaking in 2006 Obama said: “At best, we [Democrats] may try to avoid the conversation about religious values altogether, fearful of offending
Simon Gardner
Those who oppose abortion are all ideologues driven by perverse desires to inflict suffering on women.
Chris
It is a terrible mistake for politicians to assume that religious leaders speak for the followers of their religions. They are not democratically elected and there is often a wide disparity between their views and those of their followers.
Mark D
So the Papal visit is over and the anti-Pope/anti-Catholic/anti-faith lobby will begin to simmer down. The intolerant being intolerant of those whom they believe intolerant is one of the biggest issues in modern life. I don’t mind when people disagree with my views – better still when they explain their reasoning, but some of the vitriol that the visit generated served only to obscure the issues.
HrothgirOD
@Mark D
“…the vitriol that the visit generated served only to obscure the issues.”
Would that cover things said by ‘His Holiness’ and his entourage? The comparison of Atheists to Nazis was a real bridge builder, I felt.
caroline pridgeon
Please do not confuse secularism and atheism. Your last sentence suggests you do not know the difference. Religious people can also be secularists.