Here's an important distinction between Europe and America to keep in mind. Pope Benedict XVI has a hard task ahead of him.
Although there is plenty of religious apathy in Europe, it is far less powerful than the antipathy directed not just at the Catholic Church in Europe but at religion in general. It's not that Europeans think the church is out of touch or backward, but that they — or rather an influential group of intellectuals and politicians — heartily despise everything about it.Posted by Alan at April 24, 2005 02:32 PM