Published letter differs somewhat from this.

Dear Editor:

Ray Pennings ["It's too early to declare social conservatism dead", July
14] is far too sanguine about the future prospects of religiously-based
social policy.

First, he omits mention of the very dramatic rise of the non-believers.
For example, the percentage of Americans who don't believe in a deity has
increased from about 8 percent in 1990 to 16 percent today.  Social policy
that relies on religious dogma will not hold much attraction for this
large segment of the populace.

Second, he fails to observe that it is exactly the Christian Right's
disproportionate emphasis on issues like homosexuality that is leading
young people away from the church.  Religion may not be disappearing, but
fundamentalist Christianity is increasingly seen as backward and bigoted.

Finally, in what world can it possibly be claimed, as Pennings does,
that "people of faith" are "marginalized ... from the mainstream of
public life"?  Stephen Harper is a member of the Christian and Missionary
Alliance.   Justin Trudeau has said that he "welcome[s] God's presence
into my life".   Thomas Mulcair is a Catholic.  Elizabeth May is an
Anglican.  If that is being "marginalized", I can only hope that atheists,
agnostics, and freethinkers can soon be "marginalized" in the same way.

Jeffrey Shallit
Kitchener