***
"People here argue about religion interminably,
but it appears that they are competing at the same time
to see who can be the least devout."
Montesquieu
***
Often, religion is used as a "get out of bigotry free" card.
Christians outraged by Pope Francis
are people who talk the talk
to avoid walking the walk.
They are inordinately devoted to abstract doctrines and majestic papal forms
because these ecclesial constructs insulate them from the earthy need to get down and dirty.
***
