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Hudson predicted that while Benedict may discuss the war during his visit, "[he'll] frame it in a way Catholics won't be fooled into equating it with the non-negotiable issues that he himself has so well defined in his writing."

Hudson, a Southern Baptist convert to Catholicism, said Benedict's commitment to the social priorities of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, and his deep grounding in Scripture and Christian truths, resonate with evangelicals.

"John Paul II fundamentally changed evangelicals' view of Catholics through the priority he gave to social issues and his pastoral emphasis on Scripture," said Hudson.

Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said, "We have solidarity with the Catholic church in that we are pro-life, value traditional families, and uphold the doctrines of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the substitutionary Atonement. In a culture where these beliefs are constantly challenged, we are grateful for all who strongly stand for shared beliefs."

"It's not just about abortion," said Wallis, who describes himself as an evangelical convert to Catholic social teaching. "We're talking about a new evangelical-Catholic alliance that's forming around what we would call good news to the poor and what [Catholics] would call preferential option to the poor, as well as what it means to be committed to the common social good."

Peter Giersch, president of the National Bible Association and a Catholic, said he believes the warming of relations between evangelicals and Catholics has less to do with shared enemies than with a change he sees occurring within both religious traditions.

"In the last half of the 20th century there was very much an either/or choice between Catholicism and evangelicalism," said Giersch. "To use the stereotypes, Catholics were all ritual and no Bible, and the evangelicals were all contemporary worship and no history. It was a false choice even then, but it feels like one is no longer forced to choose. I see Catholics reading the Bible much more and bringing contemporary tools to their faith, while I also see evangelicals reading the church fathers and coming awfully close to what you might call liturgy in their worship. There's been a real cross-pollenization."

Anderson said he would stop short of describing the two faiths as too closely aligned.

"Evangelicals and Catholics have found much more common ground and common cause in the struggles with secularism and other religions," said Anderson. "But don't think this means alignment or merger. Our doctrinal differences are as deep and distinct as ever."

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April (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52