Your Catholic Voice

By Ray Flynn

Talking with Harvard University graduate students last evening at Red Line Pub in Harvard Square about the link between politics and religion, I said, "The concern of the Founding Fathers originally was that religious policies would have undue influence on governmental policies. Now we are seeing government trying to intimidate religious leaders to change internal religious policies.

Ray Flynn talks with Harvard students at the Red Line Pub about living their faith. (Photo David Remus)

"The Founding Fathers also wanted to guarantee that the media would have freedom of speech and the press. Now we can see that the growing crisis is manipulation by the media itself to discredit religious leaders and church policies."

I have discovered, in discussing moral and religious issues, that freedom of the press means freedom by the press to ignore opposing points of view and freedom to diminish opposing points of view. With much of the media, if you're pro-life, you're portrayed as anti-women's' rights. If you oppose same-sex marriage, you're portrayed as against civil rights. And if you're religious, you're portrayed as a right-wing zealot.

The good news, however, is that more young people with high moral values are becoming more involved in civic events, as well as their religious faith. They will make, and already have made, a giant impact. This is essential for our communities. Your generation represents the future of America. Increased emphasis on strong personal moral philosophies will only further serve to promote the greatest fibers of the American fabric.