There's no such thing as democracy or pluralism without religious voices as far as Cardinal Thomas Collins is concerned.

"The voice of faith is not going to retreat into the world of private devotion," Collins told members of The Canadian Club of Toronto in a March 28 address. "So we need to be able to listen to each other attentively and to engage humbly and courteously in the democratic conversation, with mutual respect, for the benefit of all."

Under the title "Faith and Secularism in the Public Square," Collins tackled the problem of how Christians and all people of faith can participate in democratic, pluralistic societies that claim to be secular.