Of course, one could also say, with much more evidence, that today's national Republican party bears precious little resemblance to the political party that our parents and grandparents were so loyal to.

What's all this "agenda" business, by the way. Is "the secular agenda" anything like the well known gay agenda, a conspiracy by a few against true American values? Is it like the get-out-jail-free agenda for Wall Street bankers, or the make-it-difficult-for-minorities-and-the-poor-to-vote agenda? My goodness me. The next thing we'll find out is that Democrats originally landed on earth eons ago and really are working on the well known aliens-from-outer-space agenda.

Any church or religion that systematically tries to promote and enforce the power of men over women and to cover up generations of the abuse of children...just might be a poor leader for people in a democracy, or any other place. Thank goodness for all those Catholic men and women in America who choose birth control (using their own, free judgment) instead of the dictates of old men. Do they really risk their souls? I think Jesus would weep if they do. 

One great danger to this country, as it has proven to be in others, is when religious leaders try to impose their specific moral beliefs on the citizens and on the government. Certitude is a sure formula for divisiveness and hate, not inclusion. Just look at today's Republican Party...or the Inquisition.

Full disclosure: I live in a continuity-of-care establishment run by an order of nuns. You might be surprised what some of the retired sisters have to say about the Vatican. End of full disclosure.