Randy Cohen of the excellent NYT column The Ethicist (also available as an excellent podcast) writes this week about the ridiculous “respect” of religion which prevents the media and public figures from openly criticizing, for instance, the Vatican for inviting homophobic Anglicans to join their gay-free church. It is depressing that this bit isn’t surprising:
When I write about religion, I cause a tidal wave. The week I rebuked an Orthodox Jewish real estate agent whose beliefs forbade his shaking the hand of a female client, I stopped counting after receiving 4,000 ferocious messages, lambasting not only my argument but my character, my appearance and my parentage: it was speculated that dogs played a part.
