Practicing Catholic - Couverture rigide

“His new book is a smart introduction to recent Catholic history, a rundown on how the church found its way in the 1960s under his beloved Pope John XXIII, then went back down the road to the "theological absolutism" under the current occupant of St. Peter's throne....thought-provoking" - San Francisco Chronicle “Carroll recounts his personal spiritual journey with authenticity and compassion. His story will resonate with every American Catholic who loves the faith but has too often anguished over the actions of the hierarchy. For those who believe the quest for truth is a pillar of Catholicism—or any faith—this book is a triumph of the human spirit, and a rare gift.”—Kerry Kennedy, author of Being Catholic Now “This is not a book only for Catholics. Every reader will be thrilled by the brilliantly written, passionate, and vivid story of a Catholic who has lived the ups and downs of his church since the Second Vatican Council. James Carroll offers most precious insights into the various dimensions of Roman Catholicism, past, present, and future.”—Hans Küng, President of the Global Ethic Foundation “James Carroll’s Practicing Catholic shows him as a writer who can fuse personal narrative with the great theological issues of our time. Practicing Catholic has a cosmic context woven around one man’s search to bring religious tradition, modern analysis of sacred texts, institutional politics, and his personal experience of sacred mystery into intellectual and emotional balance. I can think of no better way to examine one’s own faith journey than to read this remarkable and compelling book.”—Jill Ker Conway, author of The Road from Coorain and When Memory Speaks

A clear-eyed and personal examination of the Catholic faith, its leaders, and its complicated history by National Book Award–winner James Carroll

 

James Carroll turns to the notion of practice—both as a way to learn and a means of improvement—as a lens for this thoughtful and frank look at what it means to be Catholic. He acknowledges the slow and steady transformation of the Church from its darker, medieval roots to a more pluralist and inclusive institution, charting along the way stories of powerful Catholic leaders (Pope John XXIII, Thomas Merton, John F. Kennedy) and historical milestones like Vatican II. These individuals and events represent progress for Carroll, a former priest, and as he considers the new meaning of belief in a world that is increasingly as secular as it is fundamentalist, he shows why the world needs a Church that is committed to faith and renewal.