ARTICLE: "Emphasis Shifts For New Breed Of Evangelicals," by Michael Luo and Laurie Goodman, New York Times, 21 May 2007, p. A1. ARTICLE: "Hispanics Bring Catholicism to Its Feet: The Church offers livelier services for a growing constituency of charismatics," by Anthony Faiola, Washington Post National Weekly Edition, 21-27 2007, p. 35.

Swap out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for Rick Warren and Joel Osteen (not covered here) and you see evangelicals shifting from the myopic Core focus of gay marriages and abortion to more Gap-heavy issues like AIDS, Darfur and global warming. A twenty-year effect in the making, says one expert, predicting that the non-partisan, non-political nature of this new wave will inevitably become more policy-focused (though not necessarily political and partisan). I think this shift is great, and it bears long-term watching. Ditto for Hispanics enlivening Catholic masses, which I personally dislike but everyone else in my family would welcome. Me? I probably have to go Buddhist at that point. I want it quiet, with humming and incense and maybe some yoga, but that's it.