Product Description
Critics take the Catholic Church to trial in this Series, but they are shocked to find themselves silenced by Catholic Representatives using Scripture itself.

This trial takes place in an International Court where Catholic representatives must demonstrate that Jesus Christ is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the "accidental appearances" of bread and wine. And they must do so using only Scripture and very restricted historical evidence.

Now, more than ever, a trial concerning the Mass is critical to determine whether it will be Protestants or Catholics who must die to the ego in order to do the will of Jesus Christ. And a recent statement from Pope Benedict XVI made clear that Protestant communities cannot lay claim to the title of "Church" because they lack what the Catholic Church considers "essential to be a Church". This has raised the ire of Protestants around the world because nothing is more lacking to them than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

This trial will deal primarily with one issue. It will be a battle over whether or not Jesus literally meant it when He said,

"Take and eat, this is My Body which is given up for you", and in like manner, the cup, take and drink, "This is the Cup of the New and Everlasting Covenant in My Blood that will be shed for you and for many that sins may be forgiven. Do this in Memory of me".

Once the facts are presented, several other issues that swirl around the words of "Consecration" will be drawn into the vortex of what is at stake, and what is at stake in this trial is nothing short of sensational.

If Protestants are proven wrong it would mean they must embrace the Catholic Mass which they find repugnant for many reasons. And worst of all, they would not be able to hide the shame of having lived in open rebellion against the most Sacred Reality in existence, and the entire world would know about it. It would mean that Protestants could no longer go about referring to the Mass as "Hocus Pocus Dominocus", the greatest magic trick of them all. ... Read more

Product Description

From the basic ideas and terms, to its structures and practices, this book offers a plain-speaking introduction to Roman Catholicism. It covers:

• Roman Catholic beliefs and traditions
• practices and devotional life – rituals, prayer, mass
• Church structures and authorities – from Vatican to parish church
• Church hierarchies and people – from bishops to the laity
• the role of the Church in society.

With a glossary, further reading sections and an appendix on the history of the Papacy, this is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to understand more about Roman Catholicism.

Customer Reviews (2)

One person's work
I agree with the above review. Although I am not an expert either, I rather tend to look at the source when reading religious books. Here the author is a good-intentioned person, a retired librarian, trying to summarize on his own 2000 years of Church issues trying to explain for instance why the Nicene creed is indeed the "official" creed while there were so many other versions and discussionsabout it (so what?)and he even says that "there are a great many problems with it (the Nicene creed) as a guide to Christianity" and that it is "very difficult to understand" (??). (I personally don't find the Nicene creed difficult to understand at all!) These comments are personal comments, aren't they? Not the Catholic Church's comments. And here is the main problem with this book. At least I would have had the book peer reviewed (which I am afraid would have meant turning it down I suppose).
In my opinion, the best real eye opening of Catholicism is still the official "Catechism of the Catholic Church".

Basics Alright - Basic Errors
Any attempt to define the "basics" of Roman Catholicism, or any religion or denomination for that matter, is a daunting task, as M. Walsh admits in his introduction. Where do you begin?How much do you include?Of course, a great deal depends upon the intended audience and the author's opinion of what constitutes "basics."Walsh seems a capable author and Routledge a first-rate publisher.Unfortunately, I have serious misgivings about this book.Inquirers especially should be warned that the text may contain some "basic" errors.I say "may" because I did not take the time to seriously engage and evaluate the entire text.

I did, however, concentrate on one area about which I am qualified to speak.As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon with an advanced degree in theology, I was drawn immediately to Walsh's various comments (there are several)about deacons.In some cases the information is seriously incomplete.In other cases it is factually incorrect.The first objection may be countered by space limitations.The second, however, can have no excuse except that in Walsh's case he may be writing from a strictly British experience where history and practices may differ from those in other countries.That excuse, in this case, bears no weight because the book's intent is to address the entire Church, not as it exists in one country or another.

On this basis alone potential readers should be very cautious. One problematic topic certainly casts doubt about similar problems elsewhere.There are a multitude of books available on the same subject with the same intent.This effort is not one to be considered.
... Read more

Product Description
Would a major American newspaper accept a full-page ad viciously denigrating African Americans, Jews, or another minority? Of course not. But when the target is the Catholic Church, the rules change. Anti-Catholicism has been an integral part of American culture from the time the Pilgrims landed at Cape Cod. Even in today's supposedly tolerant climate, vicious stereotypes, falsified history, misrepresentation of religious beliefs, as well as ridicule and public attack of Catholics are commonplace. Anti-Catholicism has become the last refuge of acceptable bigotry. In Anti-Catholicism in American Culture, a series of essays that includes the Center for Media and Public Affairs' newest report on media coverage of the Catholic Church, discover first-hand: --The seven anti-Catholic assumptions common to the American experience --The sordid account of an anti-Catholic diatribe that ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Presentation Of American Catholicism!
I ordered this book form Amazon a few weeks ago and loved it. It is well-organized and tells you a lot of information about a dark side of American history: Anti-Catholicism. It tells you about the prejudices and misinformation used by those who attack the Church. I recommend this book to every Catholic and those who are interested in learning about anti-Catholicism.

Anti Catholicism In American Culture
"Anti-Catholicism in American Culture" Is a well written and comprehensive history of anticatholicism in America. Anticatholicism in America is as old as America itself. It arrived on the shores of America with the pilgrims who brought with them Anti-catholic feelings stirred up by the British royalty after Henry the VIII'S break with rome and the gunpowder plot in the late 16th and early 17th century. As detailed in the book Anti catholic bigotry has evolved over the years from one of True doctrinal difference and political differece's to a bigotry based on rejecting anything upholding moral standards and a belife in a christian God. A large part of this book deals with bigotry in the media, and contains a chapter by William Donahue on how to deal withand respond to antiCatholicism in the media. William Donohue is a course one of the most effective in this area and his work alone in this book is worth the price of the book.

Proves Anti-Catholicism is alive and well in America.
Historian Arthur Schlesinger once described anti-Catholicism as the last acceptable prejudice in America.This book shows he was right.

Consider some of the evidence presented by a Center for Media and Public Affairs report.

- More than 90 percent of TV news reports were critical of theChurch.

- Nine out of ten media sources criticized the Church'secumenical efforts.

- Church teachings and practices received lesssupport now than in any previous decade.

This insightful books examinesthe evidence.Not surprisingly it finds a media which uses negativegeneralizations, invented history, vicious stereotypes, shared prejudices,and outright denigration of Catholic religious beliefs.

This excellentresource includes a comprehensive analysis of media coverage of theCatholic Church from 1963 to 1998.It includes contributions from formerOur Sunday Visitor president Robert P. Lockwood, Catholic writer LouBaldwin, associate director of communications for he New York StateCatholic Conference Rick Hinshaw, veteran Washington correspondent RussellShaw, and Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights president WilliamDonohue.

The book also features a practical chapter outlining 12 waysindividuals can improve their relationships wit the secular media.

Thisbook should be required reading among the politically correct,anti-prejudice and diversity training fare taught on our nation's collegecampuses. ... Read more

Product Description
Karl Keating defends Catholicism from fundamentalist attacks and explains why fundamentalism has been so successful in converting "Romanists". After showing the origins of fundamentalism, he examines representative anti-Catholic groups and presents their arguments in their own words. His rebuttals are clear, detailed, and charitable. Special emphasis is given to the scriptural basis for Catholic doctrines and beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Kindle Version Needs Proofreading
Like many other reviewers, I am using this book to gain a better understanding of the Catholic faith, and I have not been disappointed at all in the author's presentation. Each point is backed up logically and completely not only by Scripture, but also by writings of historians and theologians of the time as well. Granted, the writing comes down a little hard on critics of the Church at times, but it serves to get the point across clearly. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is that in the Kindle edition there are quite a few typos. For example "lie" instead of "he," "Psalm no" instead of "Psalm 110," "fife" instead of "life" and quite a few others. I don't know if this is due to the way the book was transferred into the Kindle format, but it sure looks like these errors may be due to computer reading problems. It throws you off your stride when you have to try to decipher the words while trying to grasp a concept that may already be a bit difficult to understand! I hope that Amazon will notify Kindle owners of this title when a typo-free edition hits the streets. It would be nice to up-grade to it! If you already have the book and want it on Kindle, hang onto your book until this work is fixed!

Detailed and completely researched
This work is absolutely one of the best written that deals with this issue.It is extreemly well researched and documented and a must read no matter what your point of view is on this subject.If you want to address these issues in an informed and educated way then this work is key to the entire argument that exists between Bible Christians and Roman Catholics.I wish I had found this book years ago.I have read many of the works cited within this book on my own during my own spiritual journey and can say that each was fairly and accurately used.It is a "must read" for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.Anyone who wishes to make an informed decision about Christianity can start their journey here.

defending aLIE
I buy this book because i ben reading literature that opose catholicism and cristianity in general.so i wanted to read the catholic side of the history . there is a coment on the back of the book that said that any body against catholicism could found his position colapsin in minutes after readin the book but ,i found my position stronger than ever after reading how this karl keaten is tryn to defend a lie .and then after seing how christians are against cristians i know tha there is somethin wrong whit this religion..ah! and the creator's name is YAHWEH...

Clear, concise and beautiful!
This book was one of the first books that lead me on my spiritual journey in Catholicism.Karl Keating explains with clear logic and and excellent use of scripture the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic faith.The bookis very well documented and easy to read.I would not only recommend it tothose who are outside the Church, but also those who wish to learn moreabout their faith. ... Read more

Product Description
In this fascinating, detailed history, William Issel recounts the civil right abuses suffered by Sylvester Andriano, an Italian American Catholic civil leader whose religious and political activism in San Francisco provoked an Anti-Catholic campaign against him. A leading figure in the Catholic Action movement, Andriano was falsely accused in state and federal Un-American Activities Committee hearings of having Fascist sympathies prior to and during World War II. As his ordeal began, Andriano was subjected to a hostile investigation by the FBI, whose confidential informants were his political rivals. Furthermore, the U.S. Army ordered him to be relocated on the grounds that he was a security risk. "For Both Cross and Flag" provides a dramatic illustration of what can happen when parties to urban political rivalries, rooted in religious and ideological differences, seize the opportunity provided by a wartime national security emergency to demonize their enemy as 'a potentially dangerous person.' Issel presents a cast of characters that includes archbishops, radicals, the Kremlin, J.Edgar Hoover, and more to examine the significant role faith-based political activism played in the political culture that violated Andriano's constitutional rights. Exploring the ramifications of this story, "For Both Cross and Flag" presents interesting implications for contemporary events and issues relating to urban politics, ethnic groups, and religion in a time of war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

John Horan's review
For For Both Cross and Flag could be an exciting movie: set in colorful No Beach and the waterfront we have the strikes, thechurch's bold open criticism of business, and the interplay
between the shipowners, ILWU, Fascist Italy, the Pope,church and Catholic Action, communism, pro Italy Italians and theFBI. Wow. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of essays addresses the issues of communication and ministry in a mass-media dominated society. ... Read more

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The highly-praised author of A Concise History of the Catholic Church presents a basic course in the teachings of Catholicism as seen in their historical development--the book for the questioning Catholic. Who is Jesus? What is papal infallibility? What does the Church say about marriage and divorce? This is a book, says Bokenkotter "for the Catholic who wants to think through his or her faith." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A compendium of Roman Catholicism in Transition
Author's theme:
A concise but comprehensive compendium of Roman Catholicism, doctrine and tradition presented by an established ecclesiastical historian and doctrinal peritus who provided a well researched, thorough examination of the issues of integral Catholic thought and progressive belief in transition through the last century and its historic roots. The author Thomas Bokenkotter is a parish priest, and instructor at Xavier University, Cincinnati.

Book overview:
Fr. Bokenkotter advances his catechetical apology in five main parts starting with basic fundamentals of process theology; religion, theism, revelation, faith. Part II deals with christology; person and message, resurrection,& incarnation. part III defends the Churchand its authority, infallability, icons of mary & saints. Part IV discusses worship, sacraments, baptism, eucharist, penance, Marriage & divorce, priesthood. Concluding with part V on Christian daily life, morality, sin, sex, social justice, bioehics, and destiny.

Historical dogmatic evolution:
The knowledgeable and affluent author of the History of the Roman Catholic Church masterfully exposes the historical evolution of the Church's teachings of pre to post Vatican II Catholicism as seen in their theological-historical development. He tries to be impartial, having in his mind that he addresses those issues in an audience brought up in a mostly Protestant America. Bokenkotter summarizes scholastic thought of Ansalm and Aquinas, inviting some of the most influential contemporary thinkers to debate them including; Kung, Rahner, and Schillebeeckx. Meanwhile he could not ignore Calvin, Luther, and Barth since he has to defend the main issues that the reformers criticized.

Reviewers Reactions:
In theology you can be rational, but hardly impartial, and that is why the Amazon.com reviewers conceived the book controversially.
"A lot of the material in the book describes not what the church is all about, but rather 'what some people think' the church is all about." Steven K. Szmutko
"Dynamic Catholicism by Thomas Bokenkotter is a breath of fresh air. ... I want my faith to be like that of the thief that hung next to Christ and believed He was the Son of God. A faith based on the risen Christ that I can express with the Apostles or Nicene Creed and I don't have to be worried about all the other rules and regulations created by a group of people who's opinions change with time (albeit centuries). " Tom Blasi
"While the core truths of the Catholic Church do not change, Dynamic Catholicism outlines one thinker's view on how the interpretation and emphasis of various teachings evolve with historical context. ... Even the most conservative of Catholics must accept that the human element in the Church is capable of error by act or omission, even blunder, when viewed through the lense of historical hind sight." "gbortnyk"
"This book provided wonderful insight into the breadth and diversity of the Catholic Church. I understand and agree with the concept of strong central control of the Church. The core beliefs are what they are and it seems ridiculous that the congregation should "vote" on the catachism.""scutchen"
"Dynamic Catholicism is an example of poor Church historical scholarship. It contains just enough facts mixed with great personal interpretation written in an engaging style to make it a highly misleading book. For the person who wants to understand what Catholics believe and how these beliefs were articulated through time--this is not the book to read." "tnotare"
"I enjoy reading Bokenkotter, his writing style is quite enjoyable. Nonetheless, his content is predictable: quite liberal, too much so in fact. Dynamic Catholicism is deficient as a clear presentation of the Catholic Faith. There are also, I believe, seriously insulting remarks made about Catholics of previous generations." AKKTER3

Catholicism is not Totally Monolithic
This book was recommended to me as I was going through RCIA, as was A Concise History of the Catholic Church.I read them both.They have different purposes.This book provided wonderful insight into the breadth and diversity of the Catholic Church.I understand and agree with the concept of strong central control of the Church.The core beliefs are what they are and it seems ridiculous that the congregation should "vote" on the catachism.But that does not mean that the way each person relates to his faith cannot be different.This book helped me to feel comfortable that there was room under the Catholic tent for me.

Not a "catechism," but a valuable perspective
While the core truths of the Catholic Church do not change, Dynamic Catholicism outlines one thinker's view on how the interpretation and emphasis of various teachings evolve with historical context.I would not characterize Dynamic Catholicism a "catechism" per se, but a "perspective," and should be taken as an opinion on, not a definition of Catholicism. I find its value is enhanced when juxtaposed with its criticism, pro and con. Even the most conservative of Catholics must accept that the human element in the Church is capable of error by act or omission, even blunder, when viewed through the lense of historical hind sight.Pope John-Paul II himself has issued regrets for some of these human errors in recent years, which is in itself an implicit example of the dynamic nature of Catholicism. I found Dynamic Catholicism refreshing as a perspective.

Yes, buy and read this book, and a dozen others as well to get differing perspectives.Catholicism is the richest religious tradition ever, in my estimation, where even its faults are instructive as reflections of human nature in the historical context.Its dynamic evolution of understanding and expression is a reflection of the human's capacity to grow over time.Its teachings, intellectual debates and struggles are most valuable and challenging -- a fantastic Way to meld faith, intellect and human purpose.

A Layman's view of what really is Dynamic
Dynamic Catholicism by Thomas Bokenkotter is a breath of fresh air. When I have shared the title of this book with friends and told them I thought it is a great book they may want to read, they say "Catholicism ---dynamic?" It's inconceivable, to my circle anyway, to put those 2words together positively. However, I feel it's a book that opens thewindows of time and humanity and allows a review of historical events andhow they shaped what we now call Catholicism which is still growing underVatican II.

It appears that a lot of folks think that the reference inthe Nicene Creed to "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church means'their' Catholic church. A sincere reading of Dynamic Catholicism willclearly expose that attitude to be very narrow and uninformed.We couldjust use one example to make this point. Christianity (Catholicism) beforeEmperor Constantine verses after Constantine made Christianity the statereligion. Before and after, is it still valid Catholicism / Christianity?

Oh, here's another : the dialogue that was engaged in by Luther, Calvinand others and the Roman Catholic Heirarchy in their day. Were they allwrong, some of them partly wrong or did they all really care about thepractices of faith in their time?

I want my faith to be like that of thethief that hung next to Christ and believed He was the Son of God. A faithbased on the risen Christ that I can express with the Apostles or NiceneCreed and I don't have to be worried about all the other rules andregulations created by a group of people who's opinions change with time(albeit centuries).

I can now be free in Jesus' Love and not bogged downby the 'laws' which He came to set us free from in the first place. Thisbook has helped me struggle for the faith.

Let all the modern dayPharisees lighten up and let the Holy Spirit do His work in the spirit oflove and understanding that Jesus' promised us before He left thisearth.

Amen Brothers and Sisters

Not Quite Up to Speed
Unlike Bokenkatter's Concise History of the Catholic Church, I found Dynamic Catholicism a bit lacking in terms of factual information.A lot of the material in the book describes not what the church is all about, butrather "what some people think the church is all about."Irealize that a one volume book is certainly not as exhaustive as a morecomprehensive study of the various aspects of the church; however, thereshould have been a little more specificity as to the what is officialchurch teaching, versus what is popular opinion.While engagingly written,a little more scholarly dissemination and less "popular" opinionwould have been more beneficial. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Especially recommended for seminary, parish, and church school Catholic Theology reference collections
An exploration of traditional practices can breath new life into a withering view. In "The Great Commission: Models of Evangelization in American Catholicism", author Timothy E. Byerley (who is a priest of the Diocese of Camden and the pastor of St. John Vianney Church in Deptford, new Jersey), cogently explains that from the moment Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into the world and proclaim the good news, this divine message has taken shape in many different forms. "The Great Commission" proposes six standard patterns that emerged throughout the course of Church history, (all of which were derived from the New Testament) and then evaluates these models for reflection, comparison and considerations. Clearly formatted with each model followed by a definition, example, evaluation, the model as it is today and then considerations for Christian education, "The Great Commission" is an informed and informative as it is inspired and 'reader friendly'. Thoughtfully written and very well researched, "The Great Commission" is a superbly organized and presented resource for religious readers and educators to promote thought provoking discussions. "The Great Commission" is especially recommended for seminary, parish, and church school Catholic Theology reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Evangelization
I enjoyed this book. It is scholarly but still motivating for an average Catholic. Evangelization is not a "dirty word" - all Catholics are called to evangelize. Father Byerley shows us how in this excellent book. ... Read more

Product Description

Ever since its appearance in Europe five centuries ago, the rosary has been a widespread, highly visible devotion among Roman Catholics. Its popularity has persisted despite centuries of often seismic social upheaval, cultural change, and institutional reform. In form, the rosary consists of a ritually repeated sequence of prayers accompanied by meditations on episodes in the lives of Christ and Mary. As a devotional object of round beads strung on cord or wire, the rosary has changed very little since its introduction centuries ago. Today, the rosary can be found on virtually every continent, and in the hands of hard-line traditionalists as well as progressive Catholics. It is beloved by popes, professors, protesters, commuters on their way to work, children learning their “first prayers,” and homeless persons seeking shelter and safety.

Why has this particular devotional object been so ubiquitous and resilient, especially in the face of Catholicism's reinvention in the Early Modern, or “Counter-Reformation,” Era? Nathan D. Mitchell argues in lyric prose that to understand the rosary's adaptability, it is essential to consider the changes Catholicism itself began to experience in the aftermath of the Reformation.

Unlike many other scholars of this period, Mitchell argues that after the Reformation Catholicism actually became more innovative and diversified rather than retrenched and monolithic. This innovation was especially evident in the sometimes “subversive”; visual representations of sacred subjects, such as in the paintings of Caravaggio, and in new ways of perceiving the relation between Catholic devotion and the liturgy&#8217s ritual symbols. The rosary was thus involved not only in how Catholics gave flesh to their faith, but in new ways of constructing their personal and collective identity. Ultimately, Mitchell employs the history of the rosary, and the concomitant devotion to the Virgin Mary with which it is associated, as a lens through which to better understand early modern Catholic history.

Customer Reviews (1)

Devotions and Reform
Although I found some of the terms that Mitchell uses off-putting and too technical (reframing, re-imagining, reinventing, renegotiating etc) and his repetitious analysis of Caravaggio's paintings (especially Madonna di Loreto) rather irritating, overall I have to give his work four stars. The book rewards careful and thoughtful reading.

He builds a strong argument for understanding the sixteenth century responses of the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation, whether referred to as the Counter-Reformation or the Catholic Reformation, as more complex than uniform and organized programs and processes. By examining grassroots Marian devotions like the rosary, confraternities, and other means of meditation on the life of Christ (Caravaggio paintings or "The Mystical City of God" by Mary of Agreda), Mitchell demonstrates that Catholic believers in the period following the "dividing of Christendom" as Dawson calls it, embraced Catholic orthodoxy often by adapting those devotions to deeper understandings of Catholic worship, doctrine and discipline.

It is too bad that the publisher could not provide plates for the Caravaggio paintings described throughout the text. With access to the internet, I found all of them of course, but I think artwork should be included in the book when the author analyzes it to make his argument. Caravaggio's idiosyncratic way of presenting the child Jesus, Mary, St. Anne, St. Matthew or other saints in his artwork demonstrates Mitchell's argument that the Counter-Reformation/Catholic Reformation was not a monolithic movement of reform. Caravaggio includes dirty feeted pilgrims and buxom, balanced Madonnas in his works, which often offended viewers because they departed from the accepted iconography of Mary and the saints. And yet he is revealing a deeper understanding of the saints.

The chapter examining the use of the Rosary in sixteenth century England, when Catholics could not openly practice their faith, was particularly illuminating. Because they had no churches in which to worship and only seldom were able to receive the Sacraments, especially Holy Communion, Catholics used the Rosary as a focus for Eucharistic devotion and devout self-offering. Meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary does not require beads, so if beads weren't available or even too dangerous to possess, the faithful were still able to practice this devotion. It allowed Catholics in England to maintain church teaching about the Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection of Jesus as a form of catechetical devotion while reflecting on the Sacraments they SHOULD receive but weren't able to because of government persecution. When English Catholics did possess rosary beads, they were certainly emblematic of being a Catholic. In the 18th Century, as Parliament began to remove some of the restrictions on Catholics, Richard Challoner's "Garden of the Soul" provided more liturgical and sacramental devotion and guidance, but the Rosary continued as an identifying emblem of a Catholic, even in the United States during the 19th Century .

Finally, Mitchell discusses the Rosary in post-Vatican II context, framing his discussion around the term 'kitsch' to understand the endurance of the Rosary even as devotions outside of Mass and the Sacraments were often discouraged in the years following the Council. In spite of that discouragement, or even because of it, the Rosary has remained a favorite devotion among Catholics as diverse as Garry Wills and Mother Angelica, per Mitchell.

This is sometimes a rather cumbersome but more often a very illuminative examination of the Rosary and the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and beyond. ... Read more

Product Description
This first book of the Didache Series explains what it means to be Catholic. The book presents Church Prayer Holiness The Trinity The Blessed Virgin Mary Sacred Scripture The Ten Commandments The Sacraments and more The Didache Series presents the life and doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in the context of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Vatican II. The series draws from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Sacred Scripture, the lives of the saints, the Fathers of the Church, and the teachings of Vatican II as witnessed by the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. This series is designed for high school and adult education, seminaries and colleges, RCIA, catechism classes, and home schooling. Author: Rev. Peter V. Armenio Pages: 400 Grade: 9-12 Publisher: Midwest Theological Forum ISBN: 1890177288 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Best intro for young adults I've seen!
I have seen and read most catechisms, bible studies, and intro to theology books on the market. My background includes a Master's in Theology. I would recommend the entire Didache Series and Introduction to Catholicism in particular. The doctrine is sound, the format attractive, the content enlightening, and it lends itself to use on several levels. It is long overdue that we have in the Church such a great series of textbooks for young (and not so young!) adults.

The Best You Can Get
Well I guess this is no real big surprise as Dr Hahn is perhaps the best American Catholic mind I have ever encountered.

First his conversion story got me thinking and when you do that and have a resource like Dr Hahn available well you start to understand.....and understanding in my case led to my ongoing attempt to return to the Catholic Church (infant baptism and then Mass 50!!! years later.

Now as I am waiting to see if I can get healthy enough to go through RCIA or I move on to Purgatory I still am reading anything I can afford with his name on it. My 20 years as a S Baptist Adult Bible teacher, Prison Ministry creator and teacher, Sunday night preacher left behind I am one of the Church homeless, oh I go to Mass, but no Eucharist makes it much less than it should be. Without the good Dr this would be a lost cause and for that I am thankful for all his books and studies.

Now about this book 'Indroduction to the Catholic Church' and it's more popular brother 'Understanding the Scriptures' both part of the 4-volume 'Didache Series' put out by Midwest Theological Forum. Two other titles complete the series but right now these two are more than enough to fill your mind & spirit with knowledge, insight, wisdom, and hope, while laying down the best foundation for the Catholic faith you can find in this world. Now what kills me is that this was written for high school students, but everyone, and I mean everyone who professes the Catholic Faith as theirs will benefit from just these two books the four together, well I believe you can begin teaching others.

The Introduction is perfect for the new Catholic to see a wonderful view of the Faith as a whole organic Body. The cradle Catholic, blessed persons that they are, will be refreshed and revitalized as the sweeping view of their lifelong faith is written out as well as ever done in this modern age.

So in conclusion anyone of, or interested in the Catholic faith can do no better than this book or this and 'Understanding the Scriptures' and even better the entire 'Didache Series' which all of us this side of Vatican II are blessed to have for comprehending the whole of the One Truth Faith, the One Holy and Apostolic faith, the beautiful and rich Catholic faith.

Buy - Read - Grow

WOW!!!
Simply the best one-volume introduction to the Catholic faith that I have ever seen.

I was first introduced to this book (and this series) when a close friend who teaches theology at my son's high school ordered a sample set.

I was blown away.There is no other way to describe this.

The book is ideal for Catholic high schools (and, for that matter, some Catholic colleges) and also for RCIA.

You can trust this book.

You can trust this series.

Very, very highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
In Whores of Babylon, Frances E. Dolan offers a perceptive study of the central role that Catholics and Catholicism played in early modern English law, literature, and politics. She contends that despite sharing the same blood, origins, and history as their Protestant antagonists, Catholics provoked more prolific and intemperate visual and verbal representation, and more elaborate and sustained legal regulation, than any other marginal group in seventeenth-century England. This careful and thorough study examines legal and literary representations of the "Catholic menace" during three crises in Protestant/Catholic relations, from the Gunpowder Plot (1605) to the Popish Plot and Meal Tub Plot (1678–80). It also offers the first sustained analysis of the extent to which gender issues informed both Catholicism and anti-Catholicism in the early modern period. Available for the first time in paperback, this book will appeal to scholars and students of early modern England, Catholic history, and gender studies. ... Read more

Product Description
The recent controversy over Joe Kennedy's annulment gave only a glimpse of American Catholicism's open secret: that contrary to official Catholic doctrine, American churches grant annulments wholesale, freely declaring marriages nonexistent so that one or both partners can remarry in the church.

The United States is home to only 6% of the world's Catholics, Robert Vasoli points out, but it now accounts for 75% of all Church annulments, two-thirds of which are granted on ostensibly psychological grounds. The real scandal, though, is not simply the numbers, but that Church marriage courts annul thousands of marriages that are actually valid according to Catholic teaching. Drawing on considerable research, the author details precisely how these courts let divorced Catholics--and many non-Catholics as well--bypass Catholic teaching and law. He shows, for instance, how they often help petitioners manufacture grounds for annulment, which are justified with specious psychological reasoning that are counter to the letter and spirit of canon law. Indeed, it may even be alleged that "lack of emotional maturity" at the time of the wedding can invalidate marriages that have lasted 30 years. The result has been a tidal wave: in 1968, the American church granted fewer than 600 annulments; today it hands out more than 60,000 a year. But Rome has not smiled on the performance of U.S. tribunals: of those psychological annulments appealed to the Roman Rota (the Vatican's highest marriage tribunal), more than 90% are overturned.

This revealing look at annulment weaves painstaking analysis with a wealth of evidence as it illuminates the degree to which the U.S. Church has gone its own way since Vatican II on what constitutes valid marriage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Vindication for Professor Vasoli?
I read this book, when it was new.Over the past decade, I recall at least one deriding reference to Professor Vasoli's work from a radio source who seemed to view himself as more orthodox than the Pope.It would appear to me that Dignitas Connubii vindicated Professor Vasoli for the concerns he raised about "The Annulment Crisis."I am very greatful to Professor Vasoli for calling my attention to the Holy Father's annual addresses to the Roman Rota (usually done in January of each year & available at the Vatican web site).

Excellent book that goes straight to the heart of the problem
Vasoli's book is an amazingly thorough sociological study of the state of the American Catholic Church's annulment structure.He carefully analyzes every aspect of the process, from the paperwork through the personnel, including full statistics that show beyond a doubt that the Church in America is destroying the very sacrament it is bound to administer and support.While the current mindset even among conservative Catholics is to bow respectfully to the Church's declarations of nullity because "the Church knows better", the real issue of the effects this has on young unmarried Catholics and especially the children of those marriages which are dissolved is simply ignored, ostensibly for the sake of "peace in the family" or some such platitude.The message being sent is "Even if you're married as a Catholic, if it doesn't work out, you can still get out and find real happiness in another marriage -- and nobody will look sideways at you."In fact, the person who dares to suggest that perhaps an annulment isn't the best thing for someone in terms of their eternal salvation is the evil judgmental pharisee.Meanwhile Vasoli shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that most annulments would never stand the scrutiny of the Roman Curia, if the American tribunals were honest enough to let their victims know they had the right to appeal there.He lays out the facts, the numbers, the people, the quotes, and the results.If you have any questions about annulments, this is a must-read for you.

The finest work I have found in my research.
Incredible!Intelligent--Brilliant! I literally couldn't stop reading this book. As a student of Canon Law, I was curious about why 98% of those Americans who petitioned for annulments in 1997 were granted them as thisseems to justify contentions that "annulment" is merely theCatholic name for "divorce". Vasoli tackles such hard questionshonestly with factual basis--and after trying to gain an understanding ofthe situation via my univ. law and theology professors, suchstraightforward analysis on the annulment issue is very rare.

Also,Vasoli does it in such a way that I read 213 pages in one sitting. Heprovides great documentation/annotations, and very valuable statistics.Icannot recommend it enough! ... Read more

Product Description
This study of Chesterton's passion for his faith builds on his own words to reveal the Catholic paradox he was fond of exploring. The author draws on Chesterton's theological writings to show how he believed the Church to be a living institution that confounds its critics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fr. Neuhaus Enjoyed It
From an essay on Chesterton which he mentions David Fagerberg's fine book, "The Size of Chesterton's Catholicism":

"David Fagerberg and I were both Lutherans who later entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Unlike Fagerberg, I was not conscious of Chesterton being a major influence in that decision, but perhaps he was by my side on the journey more than I realized. Certainly I look forward to good conversation with him in that inn at the end of the road, over a steak, a pint of ale, and a fine cigar.

But, for the purposes of this preliminary reflection, let me leave it to Mr. Fagerberg: "Chesterton said saints are medicines because they are antidotes, claiming the saint restores the world to sanity by exaggerating what the world neglects. Chesterton was this author's antidote: the one who exaggerated things which had been neglected. . . . He can feel like a walking overstatement to someone who does not need the elixir, but to someone who does, he is an exact dosage. I have not written this for the purpose that it necessarily have the same effect on anyone else, only to repay my own debt by honoring a friend." Chesterton is a very good friend to have in the communion of sinners made saints.

David treats insightfully the ways in which those who resist entering into the trysting place of Christ and his Church often seem to be fearful of a closed and confining space. One might say they are claustrophobic. Fagerberg agrees with Chesterton, however, in suggesting that the more common phenomenon is that people resist because they are agoraphobic. They are afraid of the wide-open public spaces that freedom calls home. The Catholic Church does not so much provide a refuge and resting place as it launches one into all the worlds--spiritual, mystical, intellectual, historical--that are engaged by all the truths in the world.

Faith as adventure is at the heart of Chesterton's exuberance. Chesterton surely understood that there is a wideness in God's mercy, but his characteristic accent was on the wildness in God's mercy. If you are living in the truth, you can with defiant, almost swashbuckling, confidence take on all comers.

James Joyce, not the most orthodox of Catholics, said the Catholic Church is Here Comes Everybody. I don't know if Chesterton ever commented on that way of putting it, but my hunch is that he would have rather liked it. A church that is not marked by paradox, that trims history and the excesses of life and thought to fit its preferences--in short, a church that is not wild--could not be the trysting place of all the truths in the world."

[...]

I also have some reading selections for The Everlasting Man and Orthodoxy. I've listed them after assigning them titles so it makes for a nice way to flip through a series of Chesterton's thoughts based on the two books. Hope you enjoy.

Great title, great book
This book has enough quotes to be called GK's greatest hits. The author does a great job of giving us the big picture of a big guy and his big faith in our big (that is, universal) Church. If you're a GK reader, you'll love this book. If you're not a GK reader, read this book and you will be.This book also happens to serve as a very fine book on Catholic apologeticsin its own right. ... Read more

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For the last few decades, Catholics and Protestants have been working to heal the wounds caused by centuries of mistrust. This book, a Christianity Today 2006 Book Award winner, provides an evaluation of contemporary Roman Catholicism and the changing relationship between Catholics and evangelicals.The authors examine past tensions, post-Vatican II ecumenical dialogues, and social/political issues that have brought Catholics and evangelicals together. While not ignoring significant differences that remain, the authors call evangelicals to gain a new appreciation for the current character of the Catholic Church.Written by Mark Noll, one of the premier church historians of our day, and Carolyn Nystrom, this book will appeal to those interested in the relationship between evangelicals and the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Tone of fairness, but disappointing and careless scholarship
From the very beginning of the book, you get the feeling its subtitle should be "Has the Roman Catholic Church Seen the Errors of Its Ways and Become Protestant Yet?" The book's expressed purpose is to discuss perceived changes in Catholicism and see if those changes are significant enough that we can say Christian unity is achieved. Its intention is not to discuss changes in Protestantism that might lead it toward the Catholic position. As such, it sets up Protestantism as the judge of Catholic correction.

When considering the query posed in the book's title, keep in mind that Mark Noll was an evangelical Protestant before writing the book, and was so after writing it; and Baker Academic, the publisher, also remains an evangelical enterprise. I won't give away the answer, but don't be too surprised when you read it for yourself.

I must say that the charity and general tone in this book dealing with delicate issues is quite commendable.The authors do a good and fair job of explaining the history and current condition of tensions between Protestants and Catholics, and especially its evolution in the United States. Without descending into argumentativeness, the book fairly expresses positions of both sides on a wide range of issues. The major thrust of the book is to highlight those beliefs that Protestants and Catholics hold in common, while not neglecting issues that still divide. A good summary is found on pages 230-1: "Although agreement on foundational Christian teachings has always been present, at least to some degree, since the origins of Protestantism in the sixteenth century, only in recent decades have the depth and significance of these common doctrinal affirmations been visible." This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, least of all the authors, as Protestantism wasn't a new religion, but based (however loosely one wishes to view it) on existing Christianity of the time. In their review of the Catholic Catechism, this common basis seems to be news to the authors.

Despite a perhaps honest attempt to be even-handed throughout the book, once in a while the authors do betray their own perspectives. For example, the statement "In Latin America ... evangelical entry into Catholic territory still can lead to church-sanctioned violence." (p. 188) There is no citation or reference to a specific event, and no presentation of an official church document that "sanctions violence" of any kind, here or anywhere else.

Unfortunately, the book reflects an attitude of carelessness on many levels. Carelessness in vocabulary and editing, carelessness in research, and carelessness in conclusion.

* Twice on page 130 they use the word "venal" to describe minor sins. The word should be "venial."

* On pages 30-31 we're told about the document "Evangelicals and Catholics in Ireland" in text and footnotes. It was difficult as a reader wishing to find the source, because the actual title is "Evangelicals and Catholics Together in Ireland."

* On page 28 the authors say that Catholic World Youth Day is an annual event.In fact, it's once every 2-3 years.

* On page 92 they find "These statements seem to represent a softening of traditional Catholic teaching on transubstantiation." The authors' view here might be too clouded by hope.

* In a weak interpretation of the encyclical _Ut Unum Sint_, the authors claim (p. 28) that "this encyclical specified in particular that distinctly Catholic doctrines such as the supremacy of the pope should be debated openly in future dialogue between Catholics and other Christians." Well, not quite. If we look at the actual document (para. 88-96), it does not call for debate, but rather calls for "fraternal dialogue" on how Christian unity can be realized under the pope. While recognizing new situations, the encyclical says of the papacy that it is "in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission."

* Chapter 4 summarizes the results of official dialogs between Catholics and many different Protestant denominations. It includes 178 footnotes. 168 of these are cross-references to a mere two books, taken as the sources of the dialogue pronouncements. The original primary documents are readily available, so the authors should not quote secondary sources, but rather should cite the originals themselves.

In all these cases, a little bit more research, direct quoting of primary rather than secondary sources, and learning a little bit more about Catholic teaching and practice would have gone a long way to making this book a more serious piece of work. Similar treatment is given to the documents of Vatican 2, where they quote someone else's views on these documents instead of their own views or quoting the primary documents themselves (e.g., p. 60). All this just reflects bad or lazy scholarship, or unhealthy reliance on only certain secondary sources. Perhaps this last possibility explains their recommendation (p. 256) of Loraine Boettner's _Roman Catholicism_ as paying "close attention to official Catholic statements." Boettner's rabid and baseless anti-Catholicism is something of a joke, eschewed even by most Protestants.

I could go on citing more errors throughout, but I ran across this one paragraph so mistake-riddled that it blatantly shows the authors' carelessness in research and expression. It is surprising when the authors so highly commend both sides of the debate for striving to better understand each other, that they can express so little understanding of the central form of Catholic worship. I quote the paragraph in its entirety and comment afterward:

"What makes a sacrament valid? For Catholics, valid sacraments always retain a connection to ordination,[1] which leads back eventually to the pope.[2] Catholics currently observe[3] seven sacraments, including ordination. Most Protestants observe only two sacraments (and some call them ordinances). These Protestant sacraments or ordinances are usually administered by an ordained pastor, but most Protestants do not see the need for connecting the administration of the sacraments to higher church authority, such as the Catholic pope. For this reason, Protestants are often willing to have Catholics participate in their celebrations of the Lord's Supper. Informed Catholics, however, do not regard a protestant Communion or Eucharist as valid because it is not administered by an ordained priest in fellowship with their church and the pope.[4] Catholics cannot welcome non-Catholics to their Eucharist because participating in the Catholic Eucharist entails recognition of papal authority[5], which Protestants by definition do not accept. Since only a Catholic priest ordained by a bishop can validly administer Catholic sacraments, mutual celebration of the sacraments remains a far distant possibility." (pp. 113-4)

1. Not all sacraments require ordained ministers. For example, baptism. This is why Catholics recognize the baptism of Protestants, and do not "rebaptize" converts to the Church who have been baptized in most other Protestant denominations. Marriage is also a sacrament in which the ordained minister (bishop, priest, or deacon) is a witness and provides a blessing, but the actual ministers of the sacrament are the husband and wife themselves.

2. This connection to the pope is not explained. For those sacraments requiring a priest (let's say Eucharist), the "connection" is not geographically through the bishop to the pope, but chronologically through the bishops as successors to the Apostles.

3. "Observe" is an odd word choice for this phrase. In another spot, the authors use the phrase "assume seven sacraments" (p. 91). I'm not sure what they mean by assumption. It might be better to say that Catholics recognize, practice, or administer seven sacraments.

4. Again, fellowship of the pope has nothing to do with the communion. The issue is recognition of valid ordination (through time), and proper form and matter of the sacrament.In fact, non-Catholics are permitted to take communion in Catholic Mass. Canon Law 844, §3 states "Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church..." This extends to members of Eastern Orthodox churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and Polish National Catholic Church (an American denomination), none of which recognize the pope as leader of the universal church.

5. People participating in Catholic communion services recognize the body and blood of Christ, not papal authority.

In several places, the authors express hope in the shared faith elements agreed to by "many Catholics and Protestants." The problem with this is that "many Catholics" do not define or represent the official teaching of the Catholic Church. A good case in point is the quote from "Evangelicals and Catholics Together in Ireland" on page 30: "Salvation is by grace, received by faith, with no help needed from good works or religious observances done to improve our chances of being saved." Now really, no official Catholic document is going to say that participation in the sacraments is of "no help" in salvation. The authors carefully point out the richness of faith explained by the Catechism and the encyclicals of John Paul II, so they should heed their own advice in holding these as higher authority than they do the opinions of "many Catholics."

In conclusion, this book is actually a good resource for learning about the dialogues and rapprochement between some Catholics and some Protestants. But the substratum message hinted at by the authors through their lazy research, careless writing, and unwillingness to learn and convey basic Catholic teachings says, "some Protestants, but not us."

It was a good look at dialogue in America
Mr. Noll does a good job of explaining both sides with little bias of the communications that are currently going on between the Catholic Church and evangelicals.This is the greatest social concern of our era, division in the Church, so I certainly look forward to seeing more works like this, as well as more dialogue between Christian faiths.I didn't agree with all of his assertions, but the actual logs of dialogue are good for any to hear, Protestant or Catholic.

Helped me cross the Tiber
This book made me question why I was Protestant. I mean I had doubts and questions before, but this book really shed some new light and corrected how I viewed the Catholics. Well, as a result of reading this book, it made me ask why I'm not Catholic. And after a year or so I seriously considered joining the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. And praise Jesus I came home on May 24, 2008. I attribute this book helped me in my journey to the Truth.

No!
There are many thoughtful reviews from the various sides on this subject.

In Professor Noll's book, I find a theme that holds various Protestant academics these days. I have heard Noll and have read him over the past 15 or so years. This book is a continuation of his thoughts on The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. And, it is more of a cultural study than a substantive theological study, as KonaChris points out. While still an Evangelical, his tone for many years has been very critical revealing his doubt (it is an "our fault" mindset). Also important to note, he has left the Evangelical Wheaton for the Catholic Notre Dame.

While he does note some historical milestones and more recent rapprochement (e.g. abortion and other traditionalist concerns), he talks more in headlines than at the substance level of the differences. And, while Noll discusses better relations, it is primarily in the North American context, which has a very strong anti-religious influence now and is a main influence behind the rapprochement.

It is important to note that American politics has had a strong pull here. The Kennedy election was the cultural milestone split between Protestants; whereas, the Roe v. Wade decision tended to be the split within Roman Catholic circles. Even now, conservative religionists tend to be more politically united; whereas, liberal religionists tend to be similar on the other side - nevertheless, the subjectivity of it all, makes it near impossible to document the full trend. Cultural ties are not as separate as in past times and that goes for all sides. Consumer culture tends to send out the loudest drone; but the religious is strong, yet often times submerged by other interests.

It should be said that ECT, for all of its notation, was not official and has lost much of its currency. In addition, anti-Protestant comments by the pope have not helped the breach either.

For future readers, Noll's book will reveal the mindset of certain people from our era concerning religion and social life, largely due to a vacuity in religion. It is the tension of doubt.

Noll's underlying theme seems to be in his lost confidence in justification by faith alone - faith on Christ alone, not a sacramental system. Frankly, the theological analysis is not good toward honest historical and foundational inquiry (where are the Scriptural texts?). And while ecclesiology is important, it is not the main issue between the two camps (this issue is normally a tactic of Roman Catholic apologists). While this will be divisive, we must determine whether or not we care about the eternal destinations and the value of our neighbor's soul, friend or enemy.

That is why the Reformation happened and that is why it needs to continue for the Christian faith as it was intended to be for all generations.

The Word of God matters...

... and so do you!

GENTLE, INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL.
I am a Catholic theologically, artistically and culturally; and though I love my Evangelical brothers and sisters, I am sometimes confused by them.This book has been wonderfully helpful to me in seeking to understand them. Christian unity is of the deepest importance to me.I'm amazed by the scope of our common ground.All Mark Noll's books are eloquent and informative and enlightening.This book, written with Carolyn Nystrom, has given me a new perspective on religious controversy, especially in America. Let me also recommend the works of Walter Cardinal Kasper on ecumenism.The works of Noll, and the works of Kasper, strike me as reflecting an authentic Christian voice, a voice that is patient, a voice that is kind. ... Read more

Product Description
In a story that spans from the founding of immigrant parishes in the early twentieth century to the rise of the Chicano civil rights movement in the early 1970s, Roberto Trevino discusses how an intertwining of ethnic identity and Catholic faith equipped Mexican Americans in Houston to overcome adversity and find a place for themselves in the Bayou City.

Houston's native-born and immigrant Mexicans alike found solidarity and sustenance in their Catholicism, a distinctive style that evolved from the blending of the religious sensibilities and practices of Spanish Christians and New World indigenous peoples. Employing church records, newspapers, family letters, mementos, and oral histories, Trevino reconstructs the history of several predominately Mexican American parishes in Houston. He explores Mexican American Catholic life from the most private and mundane, such as home altar worship and everyday speech and behavior, to the most public and dramatic, such as neighborhood processions and civil rights protest marches. He demonstrates how Mexican Americans' religious faith helped to mold and preserve their identity, structured family and community relationships and institutions, provided both spiritual and material sustenance, and girded their long quest for social justice. ... Read more

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Since the early 1980s, approximately ten million people have turned to charismatic businessman-turned-preacher "Brother Mike" and his Catholic "prosperity" movement, El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc. Investing in Miracles offers an in-depth look at this unique indigenous movement, characterized by its effective use of mass media and its huge, emotion-filled outdoor rallies. The book investigates the sociocultural, political, and economic contexts of El Shaddai's popularity among the Filipino urban poor and aspiring middle classes and explores its significance for its followers, which reaches well beyond promises of appliances, salary raises, jobs abroad, and healing. Katharine Wiegele argues that El Shaddai's theology directly engages and affirms desires for the material signs of modernity in ways that the mainstream Philippine Roman Catholic Church and Filipino leftist movements do not. At stake for its many adherents are their place and identity within the broader society; the meaning of their experiences of poverty, suffering, and oppression; and the relevance of their very notions of God, Christian community, and Christian life.

Wiegele evocatively captures the religious and everyday experiences of her informants' lives in poor squatter neighborhoods of Manila. She is particularly sensitive to El Shaddai's delicate and often contorted relationship with the Catholic Church, which accepts the movement reluctantly, fearful of losing the loyalty of millions of faithful Catholics. While anchored in the local realities of the Philippines, Investing in Miracles will be of great interest to readers elsewhere for its exploration of religious seduction and interpretation, the interface between religion and politics, and the relevance of religion for the urban disenfranchised. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An outstanding read, a wonderful ethnography
I loved this book. It was written with sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and openness.
I learnedso much about the poverty in the Philippines, about this nutty religious revolution [el shaddai] that gets poor people to give their money to a modern day Elmer Gantry who is laughing all the way to the bank. I also learned a lot about beliefs in demons, devils, angels, etc.. What a bunch of nonsense. Of course the author tries her best to be nonjudgemental, to paint a fair portrait of this religious culture with respect and interest. She shows that this religious movement isn't all bad; it does seem to give people hope. But is is false hope, of course. The book ends with a dramatic climax as the author witnesses an El Shaddai leader abuse and berate a woman -- blaming her for all the troubles in her life.
This book was top-notch cultural anthropology. It was very well written, very intellectually-satisfying, and really painted a moving portrait of these poor people who are so desparate that they will give their last pesos to "God" in hopes of a few breaks in life. ... Read more

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This innovative book charts what had been a largely unexplored literary landscape, Thomas Haddox looks at the work of such diverse writers as the gens de couleur libre poets of antebellum New Orleans, Kate Chopin, Mark Twain, Carson McCullers, Margaret Mitchell, Allen Tate, Caroline Gordon, Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy, and John Kennedy Toole to trace the ways Catholics and their Church have been a presence in the southern cultural tradition. Haddox explores the association of Catholicism with such themes as miscegenation, patriarchy, aestheticism, and decadence, offering a more nuanced understanding of the changing intersections of religion, culture, region, and history in the American South. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An in-depth analysis of the literary intentions of many diverse writers from the American South
Fears And Fascinations: Representing Catholicism In The American South by Thomas F. Haddox (Assistant Professor of English at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville) is an in-depth analysis of the literary intentions of many diverse writers from the American South in understanding and contrast to the Catholic Church's ideals and influence of the many renowned writers. Fears And Fascinations is an unique and exclusive perspective take on the Catholic relationship to the southern product of progressive and influential writings and is very highly recommended to all readers intrigued by the Southern-American culture and its media and literary shaping, as well as students of American historical literature.

... Read more

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Try to define a layperson without using the word not: cannot preach or say Mass, is not in a leadership position in the church. The Second Vatican Council, with its emphasis on the priesthood of all believers rooted in baptism, changed all that. Yet, writes Paul Lakeland, "many of our bishops and not a few of the lay members of the church are attracted to a dangerously incomplete vision of Catholicism...one that sidesteps the major themes and key insights of Vatican II." Teasing out ideas first developed in his prize-winning The Liberation of the Laity, Lakeland develops "ten steps toward a more adult church." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Mission inherent in Baptism
An excellent read and wake-up notice for Catholics who consider it the sole responsibility of the ordained clergy to carry out the mission of the church to the world.Lakeland clearly makes the case that the laity, by virtue of their baptism, are charged with the responsibility of being the "eyes, ears and hands of God" in the world, according to their God-given talents.Only in this way can the church be the living, life-giving organism it is intended to be.

If only US Bishops would read this book!
We are reading and discussing this book in our VOTF AffiliateWe particularly love Mr. Lakeland's vision of the Church modeled on the Trinity where all: Laity, Priests and Bishops, have different but equal relationships to God and each other. We serve our communities in different capacities, empathize on service not authority and power. We the laity are not children, and should not be "infantilized". This is a hopeful, nurturing book for those discouraged by the rampant clericalism in the Roman Catholic Church. This book will be enjoyed by Vatican II Catholics.

Fine Analysis
This book gave a good description and analysis of the role of the laity in the church today; as well as several helpful points to further develop their growing involvement as ministers in the 21st century. I would strongly recommend "Catholicism At The Crossroads" be read by anyone interested in furthering the dialogue and conversation regarding the mission of today's Church. ... Read more