Providing Cover

Rick asks:

I hope that there is something more going on, i.e., that the "conservative" themes and implications of CST shape the paths and challenge the plans of those headed in one political direction while the "liberal" themes do the same for those headed in the other direction.  It's not just that First Things and Commonweal -- and their readers -- are exactly where and what they would have been, absent the challenge of CST . . . is it?

I think this is a very interesting question.  It is also relevant to this blog.  From my perspective, one of the very valuable and unusual things about this blog -- unusual even for a legal blog -- is that it includes a true diversity of political and religious viewpoints.  I for one have found it a very challenging blog to read for just that reason, but that challenge has been a welcome one (even if I don't always realize that it's welcome at the moment I'm experiencing something as challenging).   It has certainly forced me to reexamine (and in a few cases, revise) my views on a number of different issues relevant to Catholic legal thought.  To give a concrete example, I think I came to this blog with something very much like the Mario Cuomo view of the abortion issue, and I can say that that, while I know I'm still very far from many of you on the question of the interface between abortion's morality and legality, my views have definitely become more complicated over the past year or so that I've been privileged to participate here.

This isn't really an answer to Rick's question as much as a statement of appreciation for the role of this blog as a counterweight to the increasing tendency (both in society at large and in the academy) to seek out conversation with those who already agree.  It may not be apparent from my postings, but I've definitely grown, both intellectually and spiritually, as a result of this community.