text: The "problem" of dialog, is that it requires one be open: open to learning something new, open to hearing something new, open to new thinking, and above all, open to change.  
  
  Dialog then, is much more than hearing words, or saying words.  It's a commitment, on some level at least, to the other party.
  
  As ATF notes so well in her post, dialog can be blocked by structures.  It can also be blocked by misguided beliefs, by ego, by a hard heart, and an unwillingness to personal conversion.
  
  For Catholics (and likely most major religions), all too often calls to dialog mask a system that blocks off certain areas of human though, query and interest.  Francis calls us to dialog, but refuses to allow it on many of the usual hot button issues.  And even in something as basic as holding his bishops accountable in the face of massive cries from the laity, it's funny how dialog isn't really happening.  So the word are good.  I like what Francis said.  Sadly, his actions still lack...