The roots of left/right polarization in the United States

Early this week at Notre Dame an impressive group of Catholic scholars will gather for a conference called “Polarization in the Catholic Church: Naming the Wounds, Beginning to Heal.” I was invited to participate and had agreed to do so before events beyond my control forced my cancellation.

The polarization the Catholic scholars are addressing this week is not just a Catholic problem, which is one reason I was invited to speak at the event as a Baptist who grew up Catholic and remains engaged with both communities. Much of...