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"To see evangelicals and Catholics making common cause politically represents dramatic change," he admits. But he adds, "To see these former antagonists talking to each other once again about prayer, the Bible, and the person of Jesus Christ is of much greater importance for the whole history of Christianity."

Siemon-Netto: The Protestants' revenge
We're talking, but don't let the "end of Protestantism" claims fool you, suggests Lutheran scholar-journalist Uwe Siemon-Netto. He quotes Reformed theologian Harold O.J. Brown and others saying there's still much lamentable in Roman Catholicism. And not all of it is the stuff of Luther and Calvin. "The Roman Church also is threatened by implied universalism to which even the late pope appeared to succumb," Brown says. Siemon-Netto says Brown has his facts wrong, but the larger point stands: The Roman Catholic Church is faced with almost all the same problems facing Protestants, and then some.

He paraphrases Tuebingen theologian Peter Beyerhaus: "Like mainline Protestantism, Catholicism is threatened by a schism between its orthodox and its progressive, pluralistic wings; like Protestantism, it is threatened by utopians within its ranks." The election of the next pope," Beyerhaus says, "is bound to show which side will win out."

Other papal messages
If you're still a pope-crazy Protestant—either because you loved John Paul the Great or are outraged about his office —then you'll also want to know about Richard John Neuhaus's not-quite-a-blog Rome Diary over at First Things, and Stanley Hauerwas's comparison of John Paul II to John Howard Yoder in Commonweal. If you're ready to move on from all things Roman—at least until the conclave is done, there are plenty of links below to keep you busy.

More articles

Religion & politics:

• Duncan's faith may not follow church | When it comes to the issue of embryonic stem cell research, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan has made a clear split from the church's teachings (The Washington Post)
• Church leaders cheer speech by Johnson | Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson visited Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington on Sunday and told nearly 200 church and community leaders that he disagrees with the view held by some County Council members that the county's mega-churches are snatching up prime tax property (The Washington Post)
• Bankruptcy reform close to okay in Congress | Bankruptcy legislation that could make it impossible for thousands of people to wipe away their debts is nearing passage by Congress (Associated Press)
• Boca mayor angered after mosque uses name to promote controversial event | Two mayors got angry e-mails this week berating them for planning to attend an event with a speaker a civil rights group says has a history of anti-Semitism (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
• Brentwood election may have church tie | Gwen Shamblin's Remnant Fellowship, a controversial Brentwood church, is believed to be importing voters to the city and housing them — sometimes eight to a dwelling — in an attempt to influence the Brentwood City Commission election, which begins today with early voting in Franklin (Nashville City Paper)

Faith-based activities:

• Bill over group fees endorsed | A consortium of superintendents and trustees from county school districts gave their support Wednesday to a Senate bill that will treat faith-based groups and secular groups that use school facilities equally (San Bernardino Sun, Ca.)

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April (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49