Catholic Fire

September 30, 2012. (Romereports.com) October 1st is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux. Even though the French saint passed away at the age of 24, her short life continues to have great impact. During a general audience on April 6th 2011, the Pope explained what “The Little Flower” can teach Christians about  spirituality. BENEDICT XVI (6/04/2012) “Theresa received permission to enter the Carmel of Lisieux at the tender age of fifteen. Her name in religion – Sister Theresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – expresses the heart of her spirituality, centered on the contemplation of God’s love revealed in the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption.  In imitation of Christ, Theresa sought to be little in all things and to seek the salvation of the world. Taken ill in her twenty-third year, she endured great physical suffering in union with the crucified Lord; she also experienced a painful testing of faith which she offered for the salvation of those who den...

H/T:  Tom Hoopes at Catholic Vote

Today is the feast of the Archangels: Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael . These three Archangels are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation. Michael's name means "who is like God?" Three books of the Bible speak of St. Michael: Daniel, Revelation and the Letter of Jude. In the book of Revelation or the Apocalypse, chapter 12:7-9, we read of a great war that went on in heaven. Michael and his angels battled with Satan. Michael became the champion of loyalty to God. We can ask St. Michael to make us strong in our love for Jesus and in our practice of the Catholic religion. Patron: Against temptations; against powers of evil; artists; bakers; bankers; battle; boatmen; cemeteries; coopers; endangered children; dying; Emergency Medical Technicians; fencing; grocers; hatmakers; holy death; knights; mariners; mountaineers; paramedics; paratroopers; police officers; radiologists; sailors; the sick; secu...

Correction--1/4 acre is actually 10,890 square feet. ~ Via ComeUnityinTruth.

Today is the optional memorial of St. Wenceslaus, martyr and St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions, martyrs. Saint Wenceslaus is the patron of both the Czech Republic and of Slovakia . He was born to a Christian duke and a pagan mother in 903 and was educated by his Christian grandmother, Saint Ludmilla. When his father died, his mother took control of the Duchy and began to oppose Christianity. The people urged Wenceslaus to take power. He did so and protected and strengthened the Church. Wenceslaus, well known for his Christian virtue, responded to a call to live a consecrated life and made a vow of virginity. In 935, his mother and his brother, Boleslaus, plotted to kill him and take power. Wenceslaus was ambushed on his way to Church and hacked to pieces by his brother and his followers. Three days later his brother repented and had Wenceslaus' body buried in the Church of St. Vitus in Prague. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized martyr of the Philippines , and...

September 27, 2012. (Romereports.com) Rome is being called the world capital of sports medicine, even if it's only for a few days. Experts from 107 countries have gathered here for the International Federation of Sports Medicine meeting. Benedict XVI welcomed the group in Castel Gandolfo, where he emphasized that moral principles are also needed in sports. He explained that abusing medicine in sports can have dangerous consequences. BENEDICT XVI “It has even happened from time to time that winning at all costs has replaced the true spirit of sports and has led to the abuse and misuse of modern medicine.” The Pope also talked about how sports have the unique power of uniting people, while enriching  the human spirit. BENEDICT XVI “Just as sport is more than just competition, each sportsman and woman is more than a mere competitor: they are possessed of a moral and spiritual capacity which ought to be enriched and deepened by sports and sports medicine. Sometimes, howev...

Today is the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French priest known for his apostolic work among the poor and marginalized. Born to a poor family in Pouy in the soutwest of France in 1581, Vincent was an intellectually gifted youth who began his theological studies at the age of 15 and was ordained at the age of 20. On a voyage to the Holy Land, Vincent's ship was boarded by pirates and he was captured and sold into slavery in Africa, where he was held for two years before he converted his master to Christianity and was freed. He returned to France and was appointed to a parish near Paris, from where he began to initiate and organize missions for the poor, destitute, forgotten, sick, uneducated, and unemployed. He founded the Congregation of Priests of the Mission and the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity and sent priests to Africa to minister to and ransom slaves. He vigorously opposed Jansenism and helped reform orders of priests and religiou...

Wichita, KS -- The building that once housed the largest late-term abortion clinic outside Communist China has stood vacant for over three years ever since the death of its owner, George Tiller, in May, 2009. Since the clinic's closure, Wichita has remained abortion-free in spite of at least three credible attempts to re-establish an abortion business in a city that was once known as the Abortion Capital of the World. Today it is being reported that the building was sold in August to the Trust Women Foundation, led by former Tiller employee Julie Burkhart, who plans to open a new abortion clinic there by January, 2013. The new business will supply first and second trimester abortions, according to a document obtained by Operation Rescue on August 29, 2012. Trust Women will operate the clinic under the name South Wind Women's Center and will rely predominantly on out-of-state abortionists to fly into to Wichita to do abortions, creating a dangerous continuity of care issue ...

Today, September 26, is the optional memorial of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. Nothing is known of the lives of Saints Cosmas and Damian except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of Diocletian in the third century. A church erected on the site of their burial place was enlarged by the emperor Justinian. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West. A famous basilica was erected in their honor in Constantinople. Their names were placed in the canon of the Mass, probably in the sixth century. Legend says that they were twin brothers born in Arabia, who became skilled doctors. Known as the "moneyless" and the "silverless", they never accepted money for their services, but offered them in the spirit of charity. When the persecution under Diocletian broke out, their very prominence rendered them marked objects of persecution. Being apprehended by order of Lysias, governor of Cilicia, they were arrested, tortured, and beheade...

The saint of the day for September 26 is  St. Thérèse Couderc (1805-1885), founder of the Society of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle (Sisters of the Cenacle). In the early part of the 19th century, the Church in France was beginning to take on new life after the disarray of the Revolution. When Marie-Victoire Couderc  was a young woman, her father brought her home from school to participate with the rest of the family in a mission to be given at the little town of Sablieres, in the South of France, near the hamlet where she was born. One of the missionaries was an energetic and zealous diocesan priest name Stephen Terme. During the mission Marie-Victoire revealed to Father Terme that she would like to enter religious life. Now Father Terme had recently founded a small group of sisters, called the Sisters of St. Regis, to serve villages without Christian schools, so he offered to take her right away to the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Regis. Victoi...

September 25, 2012. (Romereports.com) The month of October will be quite busy for the Pope. It will include five major ceremonies, the Synod on the New Evangelization which will bring bishops from all over the world and the 'Year of Faith.' The Pope's first public event will kick off on October 4th in the town of Loreto. The Pope will celebrate Mass, to mark 50 years since John XXIII traveled there to pray so that the Second Vatican Council would be successful. Then on October 7th, the Pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square to welcome the Synod on the New Evangelization. During that Mass he will also name two new doctors of the Church: Hildegard of Bingen and Juan de Ávila. The Synod will last throughout October. The Pope has invited special speakers like, main Orthodox leader, Patriarch Bartholomew I and Anglican Primate, Rowan Williams. On October 11th, the Pope will inaugurate the Year of Faith with a Mass in St. Peter's Square. The event actua...

September 25, 2012. (Romereports.com) About 7 million people who've visited the Notre Dame Cathedral have enjoyed this exhibit on St. Therese of Lisieux, the French saint who is also the youngest Doctor of the Catholic Church. It wasn't easy to plan the exhibit. St. Therese, also known as “The Little Flower,” died at the age of 24, but she managed to leave quite a mark. To chart her life, organizers focused on her message, including her illnesses and suffering. ÉLISABETH DE BALANDA Commissioner, Thérèse of Lisieux: 'The Burn of Love' “The exhibition has a message, which is one of joy. Therese was a very joyful woman. It carries a message of serenity and confidence in God. This is reflected in the images. A quiet and joyful surrender in Jesus.” PIERRE FORTIN Vice President, Friends of Thérèse and of the Carmel of Lisieux “She brings consolation to people. She brings graces, she brings conversions, she brings healing. And she brings healing to the people that...

The saint of the day for September 25 is St. Vincent Strambi, Passionist priest and bishop. Vincent Strambi was born in Civitavecchia, the port city of Rome on January 1, 1745, the only child of the pharmacist Giuseppe Strambi and his wife Eleonora who survived infancy.  He was a happy and athletic child who manifested a strong interest in spirituality. When he was fifteen, he received the clerical "tonsure" and entered the diocesan seminary at nearby Montefiascone. Two years later, he decided to continue his studies in Rome. The following year, he attended the Dominican house of studies in Viterbo to study theology. Prior to his ordination he was named rector and professor within his seminary, Montefiascone. While on his ordination retreat, he met St. Paul of the Cross and immediately decided to become a Passionist. Paul of the Cross named him professor of theology, patristics and preaching. Traveling throughout most of Italy, he endeavored to promote the Christia...

September 24, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Pope held Sunday's Angelus from Castel Gandolfo, where he reflected on the moment Jesus told his apostles, his death was near. But despite His words, the Pope explains how at first, his apostles didn't understand His message. BENEDICT XVI “What does all this say to us? It reminds us that God's logic is always “other” with respect to our own, as God Himself revealed through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah: 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways'” Another difference is that of pride. As Benedict XVI continued his catechesis on the Gospel of St. Mark, he explained that people have a desire to be first and to be great, but God, said the Pope, welcomes humbleness.  BENEDICT XVI “We, who are little, desire to appear great, to be the first, while God, who is truly great, does not fear to humble Himself and make Himself the last.” The Pope then added that pride is deeply rooted in humans, maki...

Today, in many parts of the world, the Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Our Lady of Ransom, also known as Our Lady of Mercy or Nuestra Señora de la Merced . The Blessed Virgin appeared in 1218 in separate visions to St. Peter Nolasco, St. Raymund of Penafort, and James, king of Aragon, asking them to found a religious order dedicated to freeing Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens or Moors, who at that time held a great part of Spain. On August 10, 1218, King James established the royal, military and religious Order of our Lady of Ransom (first known as the Order of St. Eulalia, now known as the Mercedarian Order ), with the members granted the privilege of wearing his own arms on their breast. Most of the members were knights, and while the clerics recited the divine office in the commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of charity who collected alms for the ransom of Christians, and...

The saint of the day for September 22 is St. Thomas of Villanova. Thomas García was the son of a miller who was born in the village of Villanova de los Infantes, Castille, Spain in 1486. He studied theology at the University of Alcalá, where he later taught arts, logic, and philosophy.  Thomas was offered the chair of philosophy at the prestigious University of Salamaca, but declined it, but, instead, entered the Augustinian Order. Ordained to the priesthood in 1520, he celebrated his first Mass on Christmas day. Thomas served as prior of the Augustinian houses in Salamaca, Burgos, and Valladolid, and was later elected provincial of Andalusia and Castile. As provincial, he sent the first Augustinian missionaries to the New World to evangelize what is now modern Mexico. Thomas' many gifts, particularly his scholarship, powerful oratory, skills as a mediator and administrator, and his love and compassion for others, brought him to the attention of Emperor Charles V, wh...

The 3rd volume of Jesus of Nazareth , by Pope Benedict XVI, will be released at Christmas time, the Vatican has announced. The Vatican has reached an agreement with an Italian publishing house, Rizzoli, to produce the book. The Herder company will produce a German-language edition. Agreements are now being negotiated with publishers for editions in other languages. The 3rd and final volume of the Pope’s work will focus on the infancy of Christ as portrayed in the Gospel narratives. The work—for which a title has not yet been announced—completes the Pope’s project of providing a readable account of the life of Christ. The Pontiff had said that he saw the need for such a work as a counterweight to popular works that distort the identity of Jesus. The 1st volume of Jesus of Nazareth, covering the period of Christ’s life from the Baptism through the Transfiguration, appeared in 2007. The 2nd volume, with the subtitle Holy Week, covering the events from the entry into Jerusalem to ...

I can't wait to see this !

Today is the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. St. Matthew was born at Capernaum. He was working as a tax collector when Jesus called him to be one of the twelve apostles. He wrote his gospel in Hebrew. His gospel, with its familiar references to the messianic prophecies, throws light on the continuity between the covenants. Moreover, his vocation is one of the most popular episodes in the life of Jesus, because of the personality of the one called the tax collector and the revelation of redeeming love that concludes and crowns the story. Matthew's position as tax collector equated with collaboration with the enemy by those from whom he collected taxes. Jesus' contemporaries were surprised to see Christ with a traitor, but Jesus explained that he had come "not to call the just, but sinners." "Mark and Luke call Matthew by his Jewish name Levi and Mark says that he was "the son of Alphaeus" (Mark 2:14). He may have been the brother of...

Bishops to Lead Novena Prayers on Network EWTN Global Catholic Network has collaborated with one of the pre-eminent Marian theologians in the U.S. on the creation of a new “Novena to the Mother of God for the Nation. ” Fr. Frederick Miller, Chair of the Department of Systematic Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., composed the meditations and prayers which invoke Mary’s intercession for our nation. The Novena will be prayed publicly beginning on the Feast of the Archangels, Saturday, September 29th through Oct. 7th, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary. During the Novena, leading bishops from across the nation will be celebrating the televised Mass from Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Alabama at 8 a.m. ET each day. Each bishop will deliver a homily highlighting the importance of prayer in the fight for religious liberty and will lead the novena prayers for that day. Celebrants will include Most Rev. James D. Conley, Bishop-designate of Lincol...

Washington, DC -- Yesterday White House Press Secretary Jay Carney indicated that there would be no serious punishment for Sebelius for violating the Hatch Act at an official appearance in February. He stated that "action has been taken by the Secretary and department to remedy what was the result of an inadvertent error based on extemporaneous remarks." "We are appalled that Sebelius continues to engage in ethical misconduct without consequence. We have documented evidence that this latest escapade is one in a serious of ethical lapses committed by Sebelius that make her unfit for public office," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. Operation Rescue has released an article complete with links to documentation that Sebelius covered up past ethical breaches with manufactured excuses after she was caught. Read about Sebelius' history of ethical misconduct

September 20, 2012. (Romereports.com) Does this small papyrus give insight into whether Jesus was married? Experts agree, it does read in part “Jesus, said to them...my wife.”   But despite these words, the professor who publicly presented the fragment to the world says it does not prove that Jesus was married. KAREN KING Hollis Professor of Divinity, Harvard “What this does not mean is that Jesus had a wife. It's not evidence for us historically that Jesus had a wife.” Harvard professor, Karen King, publicly made the announcement during a Coptic Studies conference in Rome. She says the papyrus does reflect the discussions early Christians had about the life of  Jesus and what it meant to be a Christian. The papyrus is about the size of a credit card. It includes eight lines in the front and six in the back. It's written in the Coptic language and experts believe it's from the 4th century, but was probably translated from a 2nd century text in Greek. But the ...

Pattie Mallette, Justin Bieber’s mom, became pregnant at age 17, and was encouraged to abort him. However, a pregnancy center was instrumental in her decision not to abort. Below is the video of the exclusive interview she gave to TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford.

Today is the memorial of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr, St. Paul Chong, martyr, and companions . During the persecutions of 1839, 1846, 1866, and 1867, one hundred and three Christians in Korea gave their lives as martyrs. The martyrs included clergy, but were, for the most part, members of the laity. They consecrated the rich beginnings of the Church in Korea with their blood. Among them were Fr. Andrew Kim of Taegon, the first Korean priest and pastor, and Paul Chong of Hasang, a lay apostle. St. Andrew Kim Taegon was born into a noble Korean family. He traveled to China to become a Catholic priest and he was ordained in Macao. When he returned to Korea, as the first native priest, he was arrested, tortured, and eventually beheaded. Paul Chong Hasang was a seminarian, aged 45. As a layman, he was one of the great founders of the Catholic Church in Korea. He was persecuted before he could be ordained. History: It is interesting to note that during the Korean War...

We are women who support the competing voice offered by Catholic institutions on matters of sex, marriage and family life.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of La Salette. On Saturday, September 19, 1846, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows about 3:00 in the afternoon, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on the mountain in La Salette, France to fifteen-year-old Melanie Calvat and eleven-year-old Maximin Giraud, two young shepherds. Mary appeared in a resplendent light as a beautiful woman dressed in a strange costume, seated on a stone, her face buried in her hands, crying. The beautiful lady then stood up and crossed her arms. She told the children not to be afraid but reassured them that she had great news to share. She gave them both a public message and asked them to make her message known to all her people. Our Lady called the townspeople to repent of their sins and to turn back to Christ.  The Blessed Mother told them: "If my people do not wish to submit themselves, I am forced to let go of the hand of my Son. It is so heavy and weighs me down so much I can no longer keep hold o...

The saint of the day for September 19 is St. Emily de Rodat . Emily was born in 1787 at Rodez, France.  She was educated at Villefranche, became a teacher at the age of 18 and, realizing that many of the children of the poor were not going to school because they could not afford to, she opened a school for them and taught without charge. She also began to consider religious life, but after entering three or four congregations for a short time, she realized that she was not called to any of the existing orders. Emily devoted all of her life to teaching the poor and gathered other young women to help her cope with the rapidly growing numbers of children in her school. These women also gave all their lives to teaching the children and became the nucleus of the Religious Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche. The congregation was devoted to caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans, in addition to the schools for the poor. Some of the nuns were also contempl...

American Life League's latest video on Barack Obama and the Al Smith dinner:

September 18, 2012. (Romereports.com) This October marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. But few people truly understand the impact this council had on the Catholic Church. So to get the message out, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications will launch an HD documentary on October 11th. It will include never before seen images, interviews and expert analysis. The producers are now offering the documentary to American and European television stations. ARCH. CLAUDIO MARIA CELLI President, Pontifical Council for Social Communications “We have 200 hours of footage from the preparatory activities and working sessions of the Council. Our intention is to make this rich repertoire of the Second Vatican Council available to all audiences.” A team of fifty people helped produce the documentary which was made specifically for a TV format. People who were personally involved in the council are interviewed, including 14 cardinals who explain ev...

“Our hearts are restless, O God, until they rest in You.” ~ St. Augustine Those who know me know that I am writing very few reviews these days due to the many hours of research I have been devoting to my Master’s thesis in theology.  However, when I was offered a chance to review the first full-length feature movie on St. Augustine , I could not refuse, as he has long held a special place in my heart. This beautiful and inspiring film did not disappoint.   Restless Heart was even better than I imagined it would be and I had high expectations prior to watching it. As the film begins, we are transported to the besieged city of Hippo in 430 A.D. The elderly Augustine recounts his life story to the captain of the guards, sharing the powerful influence his mother, St. Monica, has had upon his life. The film flashes back to Monica in childbirth. Augustine’s birth is a difficult one for her, even life-threatening, but she emphasizes to the midwife how important this child...

Today, September 18, is the feast day of an endearing Franciscan saint, St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663). Joseph’s father was a poor carpenter who died prior to his birth. His mother, Francesca Panara, was unable to pay the debts, so the creditors evicted her from her home. She gave birth to Joseph in a stable at Cupertino, Italy. When Joseph was eight years old, he began receiving ecstatic visions that left him staring into space with his mouth wide open. Children made fun of him and called him "the gaper."  He was poorly educated and could scarcely read or write, which led others to think of him as stupid. In addition, his continual ecstasies made it difficult for him to concentrate on any task.  When he was seventeen, he decided he wanted to become a monk or friar. Joseph applied for admission to the Friars Minor Conventuals, but was rejected due to his lack of education. He applied to the Capuchins and was accepted as a lay-brother.  However, he continual...

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia laid out his views on the upcoming presidential election in stark terms in a new interview, making it clear that he can’t support President Barack Obama because of his pro-abortion views and record. “I can only speak in terms of my own personal views. I certainly can’t vote for somebody who’s either pro-choice or pro-abortion,” he said. In the interview with the National Catholic Reporter, the Catholic leader reiterated Church teachings about how “prudential judgments” compare with abortion in terms of what should take the higher consideration when Catholics head to the polls to vote. “Jesus tells us very clearly that if we don’t help the poor, we’re going to go to hell,” Archbishop Chaput explained. “But Jesus didn’t say the government has to take care of them, or that we have to pay taxes to take care of them. Those are prudential judgments.” “You can’t say that somebody’s not Christian because they want to limit taxation,” he con...

A soprano sang at the end of the Pope's Mass in Beirut's City Center Waterfront. Roughly 300,000 people attending Mass enjoyed the popular melody titled "Panis Angelicus," which is dedicated to the Eucharist. During the performance, many people were visibly moved.

Today, September 17, is the memorial of St. Robert Bellarmine , Italian cardinal and theologian. One of the great saints of the Jesuit order, St. Robert has also been declared a Doctor of the Church and the patron of catechists. Robert Bellarmine was born on October 4, 1542 in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. His uncle was a cardinal who later became Pope Marcellus II. As a young man, Robert received his education from the Jesuit order, which had received written papal approval only two years before his birth. In September of 1560, Robert entered the Jesuit order himself. He studied philosophy for three years in Rome, then taught humanities until 1567, when he began a study of theology that lasted until 1569. The final stage of his training emphasized the refutation of Protestant errors. Robert received ordination to the priesthood in Belgium, where his sermons drew crowds of both Catholics and Protestants. In 1576, he returned to Italy and took up an academic position a...

Today, September 15, is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows . On this feast, we commemorate the seven great sorrows which Mary lived in relation to Her Son, as they are recorded in the Gospels or through Tradition. Today we are invited to reflect on Mary's deep suffering: 1. At the prophecy of Simeon: "You yourself shall be pierced with a sword - so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare." (Luke, 2:35). 2. At the flight into Egypt; "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt." (Matt. 2:13). 3. Having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem; "You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow." (Luke 2:48). 4. Meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary; 5. Standing at the foot of the Cross; "Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother." (John, 19:25). 6. Jesus being taken from the Cross 7. At the burial of Christ. Patron: people named Dolores, Dolais, Deloris, Dolorita, Maria Dolorosa, Pia, and Piet...

September 14, 2012. (Romereports.com) Among tight security the Pope came to St. Paul's Melkite Greek basilica of Harissa, the most important shrine to the Virgin Mary in the Middle East. There he signed an official document on the situation of Christians in the region. Upon entering, the Pope blessed the participants and the Eastern patriarchs, with a cross in his hand instead of a staff. He also greeted the president, Michel Suleiman, who is Christian, as well as several Muslim representatives following the meeting from the front row. The Pope explained that the new document has been prepared from the reflections of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, which was held in Rome in October 2010. It was participated by 255 bishops and religious leaders from the area. That is why the first thing the pope noted was the difficulties faced by Christians in the Middle East. Benedict XVI “The entire Church was able to hear the troubled cry and see the desperate faces of ma...

September 14, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Medio Oriente” was signed by Benedict XVI in Lebanon. It's meant to be a key document for Christians in the region. It addresses issues such as the situation of women, secularism and religious extremism. The document is divided into three parts . The first part examines how to live in coexistence while respecting and defending diverse cultures and religions. Benedict XVI goes on to defend respect for the diversity of rites and customs, a richness that comes from the early Christians. At the same time, he promotes dialogue with different faiths, discussing moral issues such as family, sexuality, bioethics and peace. The pope chooses to tackle the topic of secularism in the document, saying it seeks to exclude all manifestations of religiosity and defends the “healthy secularism” that distinguishes between civil and religious authority, protecting the people from religious fundamentalism. Be...