While the wonderful and historic speech to the Protestant ministers is highly regarded by objective American historians as a powerful transforming address, we must admit that the Catholic hierarchy--then and now--said it did NOT reflect Church teaching.  Archbishop Chaput's contemporary (2010) criticism of it is a must-read--and I am afraid it reflects the views of many...too many. Indeed, it shows a wide gap in Catholic thought.

We should discuss that disparity more, especially amid current debates about freedom of religion and separation of church and state.

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