Ray Flynn on Religion and Politics

"Pope Francis recent encyclical on the environment said it all about what's happening in our culture today. Some political sources praised and welcomed the historic report from a pope who they called a 'visionary leader.' On the other hand, other politicians publicly responded with scorn and ridicule, even calling him a ‘socialist.’ This political sideshow proved how broken and divisive our country has become. Instead of reporting the facts about the encyclical, the public received a biased account and political spin. I point this out not to offend any political persuasion -- Democrat vs. Republican, business or labor, conservatives or liberals -- but only to point out that in too many cases, the message of the pope and religious groups too often gets caught up in politics. Whether it's about the environment, economy, education, or social issues. It's all about what politicians feel is in their best interest."

In a recent commentary, Raymond Flynn, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and Mayor of Boston (and Providence College '63), reflected on religion, politics, and their interaction (especially in the United States).

To access Mr. Flynn's complete post, please visit:

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