There is a tendency to argue in favor of Roman Catholic practices, [View all]

even when they are destructive and patently immoral. Even some people who do not claim to be Catholics sometimes do that. We see it when the roles of women in the church are discussed. We see it in discussions of reproductive choice, including contraception and abortion. We see it in apologias for priests not reporting known child sexual abusers to civil authorities.

Why do people do this? Because they see religion as separate from civil society, and not subject to all of the rules the rest of us must follow. Because, see...God. We argue for social justice, equality, safety of our children from predators, and many other things, on the basis of our progressive viewpoints. So, why do we offer excuses for a religious group when they flout their failure to honor those values?

Because God. But that makes no sense at all. Why should one group be exempt from the laws the rest of us must follow, just because they adhere to a particular branch of a religion and think they are not subject to those laws? Why do we allow that? Why do we argue for such exemptions, despite not even being part of that particular religious group?

That's a question for which I have no good answer. It makes no sense. If we support women's rights, reproductive choice, and the rights of children not to be sexually abused by people in positions of trust, how can we justify not applying that support equally, across the board?

That puzzles me. I can find no logical argument to excuse one group from the laws the rest of us must follow. Can you? If so, please explain how you manage that.