When I was about ten years old, sitting at breakfast with my family, the news came over the radio that Pope Pius XII had died. With a flash of juvenile brilliance, I commented,
"Popey - Dopey!"
My Daddy glared at me as ONLY my Daddy could glare and said in his most stern and severe voice,
"He was a great man. And he's dead!"
I was a little confused because we were Baptists and I thought we were against Catholics. But, that morning, he showed me that it is possible to have respect, admiration, and even love for people with whom we have differences.
My Daddy was also a great man.
As a former Catholic, I respectfully disagree. And I had a great dad too :).