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| | Inquiring Minds: David Kertzer on Pope Pius IX (GSJ of Sept. 22, 2000) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-13) |
 | | Pius IX, the longest reigning pope in Church history (1846-78), was a fierce opponent of modernity and a strident foe of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. |
 | | The argument for his beatification is that Pius IX was a personally pious man, entirely devoted to the Church, and that everything he did was motivated by devotion to what he perceived as the welfare of the Church. |
 | | It is odd because, while Pius IX stood for opposition to modern times and hostility toward all other religions, John XXIII is known for undoing his work by trying to bring the Church into harmony with such doctrines as the belief in basic human rights and, especially, championing the respect of other religions. |
| www.brown.edu /Administration/George_Street_Journal/vol25/25GSJ04f.html (523 words) |
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