Thank you Dr. Fiedler for your positive article and lifelong work in the pursuit of ecumenical relations. I'd join you in your observation about the impact of the Reformation in eventually toppling divine right absolute monarchies, and helping to create a way of thinking which in a few places (luckily the young USA) allowed the groundwork for our Bill of Rights.

The First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and press, and against a state religion and for protections for religious toleration (not always honored in the case of Mormons, RC, and a few others) could only develop in a post-Reformation world. The RCC of the pre-Great War world openly attacked "Americanism" and "Liberalism" which it defined as including free speech, free press, multi-party democracy and worst of all in the Vatican view then, other churches openly practicing their faith. Catholic countries were enjoined to suppress such policies and thinking. Thank heaven for the USA, and Glorious Revolution (UK).