Save Us From Gloomy Saints

St. Teresa of Avila said, "Lord, save us from gloomy saints."

Pope Francis in a homily in May said, "Sometimes these melancholic Christians' faces have more in common with pickled peppers than the joy of having a beautiful life."

These twin quotes came to mind when reading this article by the director of the Kansas Catholic Conference. Pickled peppers on steroids! And the author grossly misrepresents the religious sensibilities of the founding fathers, who were quite content to reduce religion to the role of an ethical authority and allow that, and only that, to be the church's contribution to the public square.