A local mosque was tagged with anti-Muslim graffiti the other night. A day or so later, the Roman Catholic bishop condemned such hateful acts. It was the sort of broad ecumenicalism that I expect from our clergy, but Britto's story is every bit as admirable, and he lived in the fourth century AD.
While he was the bishop of Trier, a group of pagans sought sanctuary in his church. He strove to convert them, but could not do so. Then authorities demanded that he surrender them. In spite of their commitment to polytheism, he refused to turn them over, saying the state had no authority to interfere in Church matters.
The shield to the right is the coat of arms of the Bishop of Trier.
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