A nation which kills 1.3 million of its babies every year is like the Church ?

Sounds like blasphemy to me.

God Bless
Chris Sullivan | 11.24.04 - 2:16 pm | #

Yes. "Like". So was ancient Israel, for different and higher reasons. Read the piece, Chris. Chesterton is quite right. To say that America has the soul of a Church is not incompatible with saying that America is a Land of Apostate Puritanism. A soul can be corrupt, but it retains something of its essence, nonetheless.
Mark Shea | 11.24.04 - 2:26 pm | #

The link seems to be bad.
SteveG | Homepage | 11.24.04 - 2:40 pm | #

In that case wouldn't every nation have the soul of the Church ?

The link to the story is still broken.

God Bless
Chris Sullivan | 11.24.04 - 2:42 pm | #

If I understand the quote correctly (and all bets are off on that) Chesterton advances, in part, the notion that the US is a nation founded, at least, on a creed. We may not always, all of us, live up to the creed (witness slavery, witness the near genocide of the native population, Witness Manzanar, witness abortion), but the creed is there, nonetheless, guiding and sustain us in our finer moments.
Tom E. | 11.24.04 - 2:45 pm | #

Regarding the quote.
Zhou De-Ming | 11.24.04 - 2:51 pm | #

There is much that is great and noble in the United States which is an inspiration to those of us who dwell in distant shores.

The Christian spirit still shows itself in US public life (which is more than can be said for secular New Zealand).

One of the great strengths of America is its defense of religious freedom, something which also goes back to the Puritans and their flight from religious persecution in Europe (that unfortunately justified by the Angelic Doctor in Rod Dreher's post below).

Best wishes to my American friends on thanksgiving and may God bless you all and your great country.
Chris Sullivan | 11.24.04 - 3:09 pm | #

I've heard that the quote is from Alexis de Toquiville.
SJH | 11.24.04 - 3:55 pm | #

I've read the quote in situ, which is to say, in Chesterton's book about his trip to America.
Mary | 11.24.04 - 8:20 pm | #

The more I think about what Chesterton is saying, the less I like it--but the truer it seems.
Sage | 11.28.04 - 9:19 pm | #