The ongoing discourse around the Iran war has led to a striking turn of events in which conservatives are demanding total separation of church and state, and liberals are professing with Boniface VIII that all creatures must be subject to the Roman Pontiff. The poor integralists probably feel more politically homeless than ever.
Recently, Bishop Robert Barron released a statement that attempted to reconcile these two sides, to defend both the Pope’s statements and the president’s foreign policy. This kind of reconciliation is, of course, not allowed in our national conversation and was met with derision. He is being called by some a traitor and by others a toadie. To be both simultaneously is a difficult feat to pull off. I am impressed!
