US, Everything you describe is deplorable, but I fail to see how TRC's remarks could possibly be construed as condoning that situation. The point is that even if American pluralism is preferable to European secularism, neither is ideal. Look at the campaign against Christmas in this country. Happy Holidays.
Dear royalcello,
"The point is that even if American pluralism is preferable to European secularism, neither is ideal."
Ideal government awaits only in Heaven.
Here on earth, we are required to choose between different models, all flawed.
Some are intrinsically evil. Some merely tend to disorder because of original sin. Even the Founders recognized this.
Finally, anyone who makes a totality of any human system of social ordering, whether political or economic, cultural, or otherwise, creates a false idol, and moves toward totalitarianism.
sitetest
My biggest concern for the freedom of the Church are the sorts of restrictions on free speech that are now common in Europe and Canada. Our constitution and constitutional jurisprudence has a very strong tradition supporting freedom of speech, at least until there is a clear and present danger. In this way, I do believe our system is better than the European. If the courts stick to this tradition, then the Church will be protected. If the courts give in to the left wing fad for speech codes and criminalizing un-PC thought crimes, then I see a real time of persecution.