In the world's largest Roman Catholic country, the high court has ruled in favor of legislation allowing embryonic stem cell research. Though opposed by church groups, Brazil makes a stand for research.
For me, it's always helpful when a state frees itself from the Church (I use a capital C to reference the Roman Church as a political entity), freeing not only itself, but the Church as well from the shackles of its own traditions.
The modest metaphors of salt, light and yeast used by Jesus are a far cry from the pomp and power of the Church.
Jesus never intended the church, the movement He founded, to be an Empire. He knew full well from the example of Rome the sadness and tragedy of empire.
