Well we agree on one thing: I don't like that the Church is the laughing stock. Yet I am reminded of the passage where Christ said we would be the laughing stock and we would be persecuted--because he was the laughing stock and he was persecuted.

Sir, I care about popularity like anyone else does.  I would love being in Hollywood's good graces--along with all the cool kids in Washington--you know--Obama, Hillary, Slick Willy and the like.  Thing is--I care about God's truth more than I care about what they think. 

Sir, if believing in God's Truth and believing that His word (though I believe evolution and God's Word can be harmonized) and it's authority makes me an Ostrich, then I am happy to be an Ostrich.  Augustine might not have been a Scripture "scholar" but he is a saint.  I will take sainthood over Scripture "scholarship" any day of the week.  Augustine is canonized.  I don't see Ray Brown's name in the Cannon.  Do you?