While I totally support you in this, Tolkien actually was a devout Catholic. It was he who helped C.S. Lewis (a former atheist) find his way to religion, but got upset when Lewis chose to be an Anglican.

He has a huge soft spot for the Blessed Sacrament and Communion, and he rejected the liturgical changes implemented by the Second Vatican Council (1965-68), much like the religious sect Mel Gibson's father belonged to.

Christian themes are certainly implied throughout LOTR, even though Tolkien wasn't blatant with his references. That's one of the things that so cool about it, it comes across as more universal.

And Tolkien was a man who was ahead of his time in many ways, being progressive about race and naturalism (certainly for a man of his time). But he was a devout Catholic, that was for sure!