Poland: More religious than the U.S.?

Poland's defense minister Radek Sikorski suggests that his troops have a better relationship with Iraqis than other troops do because Poland is a "religious country" - and thus, more respectful of Iraqi religious sites. Poland is a majority Catholic state, but isn't the United States stereotyped as the lone fundamentalist of the West*? Perhaps if Sikorski were describing his country as "religious" relative to other European states, then definitely. But the United States is home to many creationists, "God Bless America," and "one nation, under God."

It's possible Sikorski meant "Catholic," not religious. After all, Pope John Paul II opposed the U.S.-led war. And while there have been plenty of pro-war Catholics in America (not to mention Poland and elsewhere), Catholics worldwide have been instrumental in grassroots peace and justice movements. Latin America stands out as an example. And to many, Catholics are moderate and respectful, while the strict-interpretation fundamentalists are often associated with images of spittle-emitting, angry Southerners.

Regardless, I found his comment a bit odd.

*Poland is arguably not in the "West," but the term is used to group those countries with troops in Iraq.