Don’t miss Bill McGarvey’s terrific interview on the Bustedhalo website, with Timothy Radcliffe, OP, the former master general of the Dominicans, and one of the most lucid of all Catholic writers. (And speakers: Radcliffe is consistently one of the biggest draws at the LA Religious Ed Congress.) The wideranging interview includes this pointed observation on letting others know what we believe about our Catholic faith, and, at the same time, allowing for discussion within the church: "So we have to try to let people know what we really believe! Also we have to be less afraid of real discussions within the Church. We must show people that being a Catholic does not mean brain death. The Church always had a wonderful tradition of debate and argument right up until the Reformation. After that time there has been a tendency to think that arguing is disloyal and that we must man the battlements against the enemy. We must relax! The Holy Spirit was poured upon the Church at Pentecost, and so we must be confident that we can face tough questions, risks disagreements, having faith that the Church will not come to pieces. If people outside see more intelligent debate within the Church, then there will be less hostility and suspicion." You can read the whole interview here: "Radcliffe on Bustedhalo" James Martin, SJ