The Enright Files on moral challenges faced by Christianity
Christianity is the world's largest religion. One third of humanity identifies as Christian.
Christian rituals and symbols have a special power even among non-believers in western countries — witness the outpouring of shock and sorrow over the fire that ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The moral codes of Christianity are intrinsic to western societies and form the foundation of the ethics and mores of hundreds of millions of people.
And yet, some of Christianity's most daunting challenges have derived from the moral failures of its biggest institutions and the failures of Christians to follow their religion's core teachings. The object of worship may be divine, but the church and the worshippers are very human.
Some of the crises facing contemporary Christianity are obvious, such as the ever-widening revelations of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy and the role of bishops in covering it up. Some are less obvious, such as the embrace of anti-immigrant, xenophobic political movements in countries with large Christian majorities
On this month's edition of The Enright Files, conversations about the moral authority of the Church — and the struggles of Christians to live up to the principles of their faith — in the face of anxious, angry times and the Church's own crimes.
Guests in this episode:
- James Carroll is a Roman Catholic journalist, author, academic and former priest.
- Walter V. Robinson is the former editor of Boston Globe's Spotlight investigative unit.
- Anne Barrett Doyle is the founder of BishopAccountability.org.
- Michael Higgins is Distinguished Professor of Catholic Thought at Sacred Heart University.
- Mardi Tindal is a former moderator of the United Church of Canada.
- Jim Wallis is a theologian, author and president and founder of Sojourners.
**The Enright Files is produced by Chris Wodskou.