Lucia,
'a war against secular-humanism'
'charge to catechize'
I am not at war with anyone, the churches panic about secular-humanism because it dispels many of the myths they have cultivated.
I don't want to be catechized, it's taken half a life time to remove myself from enforced catholisism.

Chris, St Albans, UK

Gaia,
The Catholic Church is already the largest charitable organization in the WORLD and has been for 200o years...they don't need to tear down beautiful cathedrals to prove that they give to the poor.

Diane, Houston, USA

Like Narsisco said,
there were faithful, heaven-bound Catholics long before the Church had put together the New Testament in 395 AD. The Bible can enrich your Christian faith, but is not required. Don't fall prey to the protestant heresay of Sola Scriptura.

Diane, Houston, USA

Bravo, Paglia, but he is stating what is obvious. Since this phenomenon didn't happen overnight but over the past 40+ years, then he above all, must realize that we are in a war against secular-humanism. Instead of hand-wringing, he should
lead the charge to catechize.

Lucia A. Bartoli, Dana Point, U.S.A.

Bible knowledge does not equal faith. There are many faithful Catholics prior to the compilation and writings of the books of the New Testament, and many still prior to the invention of the printing press, and many now in third world illiterate countries.

Frederick Nacino, Alviso, California

Somebody here is confusing God with human insitutions.The relationship with God is first of all personal, the Pope or the Pastor are not responsable for it as the existence of God has nothing to do with the richness of the Catholoc Church.And anyway, we are tolking about ignorance, not God existence

Anna, Brighton, UK

Nahtan u'r right, I wouldn't change my mind. It was kind of ironic. I love the Catholic thought, but I don't like at all the Church. It is too powerful and I would say also corrupted.
I read the Bible as I read the Coran. I believe their both great books, just books.

gaia, Torino, italy

So why the Roman Catholic Church doesn't have lackness of faith like the Protestant Churces? Philosophers sustain that the Roman Church is the only without crisis of value and of faith because his message is the most traditional and the most philosophically interesting for the modern human beings.

Luca Zanotti Fragonara, Cardiff, UK

Actually it's never been traditionally expected for Catholics to have encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible, that's more for the Protestant 'bible-basher' sects. The real question is - do they know their Catechism?

Sarah, London, UK

I have a friend who identifies herself as Catholic and who recently objected to her sister marrying a Baptist. I pointed out that my friend never goes to church and owns no Bible and asked what she really knew about religion. "I know we're not supposed to marry Baptists" was the answer.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

It's all true. As a life long atheist I'm constantly amazed how clueless Italians are when it comes to the bible. Those who do profess to being pious turn out to be nothing more than credulous. How else can one explain the phenomena of Padre Pio & Silvio Berlusconi. They'll believe anything.

Fipo, Padova, Italia

"If the Pope takes all his wealth and gives it to poor ... I could think about change my mind."

No you wouldn't.

People use excuses, etc. like this n evolution inorder to justify choosing against God - but neither oppose faith in Him.

People don't like implications of God's existence.

Nathan, Inverness, UK

Let's face it. Most followers of most faiths are ignorant of most of their religion's supposed tenets and beliefs. Religion for most is an add-on they inherited, along with a national identity and football team. People float along happily in ignorance.

frank, sydney,

I am Italian and I am not religious. Baptism, Comunion and Confirmation were given to me, but I just don't feel Catholic.
Church is one of the richest istitution in the word. If the Pope takes all his wealth and gives it to poor people all over the word, maybe I could think about change my mind.

gaia, Torino, italy

Bit like Labour supporters, then. Don't confuse me with facts.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan