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This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Catholic Truth Society in 1900 in 73 pages; Subjects: Prayers, Medieval; Religion / Christianity / Catholic; Religion / Christian Rituals ... Read more

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Experts from a variety of fields join forces to show us what fuels a most horrific violation of trust--sexual abuse by priests--and how the church and church structure play a role in this abuse. This riveting work includes chapters by a former Director of the premiere U.S. facility treating clergy who are sexual offenders, by a Jesuit psychologist who authored the largest study of clergy sexual abusers ever completed, and from a Vatican correspondent explaining the issues as seen by the Vatican. This text also includes an opening chapter by Michael Rezendes, a Boston Globe investigative reporter and member of the Spotlight Team that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking the story of sexual abuse by clergy. A statement by the Executive Director of SNAP, the national support group for victims of clergy sexual abuse, is also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Catholic Politics
This book provides a framework for political analysis by Catholics who may be confused and perplexed by the current American political scene.This book is aimed toward liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, libertarians and Catholics of all other political persuasions.The one short-coming I saw in the book is the lack of a concluding chapter - but that is probably the authors' intention.The authors intend to give a framework for decision-making by Catholics, but give very few answers beyond those few "unambiguous teachings on particular moral questions (abortion, theft, and living wage, for example)."[pg x]

What was very surprising for a person who believes himself well-informed about political issues was the authors' ability to show how policies that seem not to be related are in fact closely interrelated.A just economy fairly addressing issues of poverty, healthcare, and education lead to secure families spanning across the generations, racial and ethnic pluralism, and protecting the environment and the sanctity of life.

As an example on why being a Catholic is being neither a Republic nor Democrat, liberal or conservative, consider Chapter 9, "Consistently Defending the Sanctity of Human Life."Republicans and conservatives generally defend the sanctity of the life of the unborn ardently, while Democrats and liberals generally object to the death penalty while defending the right to choose.The Catholic response to these issues is consistent - life is sacred regardless whether it is the beginning of life in the womb or the end of life as an octogenarian - and everywhere in between.Period.End of the story for abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, and physician assisted suicide.

This book was written before the United States and the "coalition forces" invaded Iraq, but gives a structure for a Catholic to analyze that action - and the analysis, at least in my opinion, is not favorable.The "just war" doctrine has been a fundamental position for Catholics since articulated by Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theoligicae.As the authors say [pg. 199], "Fighting a war against terrorism is just, but there are still significant moral limits in how we go about fighting it."Have we crossed those limits by invading Iraq which, after we have failed to find weapons of mass destruction and have found information that Saddam Hussein did not participate in the 9/11/2001 attacks, shows no signs that it imposed an imminent danger to the United States?Have we crossed those limits with the prisoner abuse recently making the news, which seems to have derived directly from the President's and Defense Secretary's decisions to hold prisoners of war without regard to the Geneva Convention, and American citizens without regard to the due process of law?As the authors also say: "The threat of terrorism does justify more vigilance, including considerable inconveniences and even some loss of privacy for Americans, but these must be balanced against civil liberties."

As stated, my biggest complaint is that there is no conclusion to this book.The authors do not tell us what to think, or in most cases what they think.They do not give us answers to the questions:

Is it right for a politician who passionately believes that abortion is wrong and in the sanctity of life to also believe it wrong to criminalize abortion?Should a bishop announce that he should be denied the sacraments?

Is it right for an economy to adopt the requirements for a just economy (fair wage, universal healthcare, environmental protection) and therefore put it at a disadvantage against other economies that fail to adopt these measures?

One thing that the book does appear to make clear is that there are no bellwether issues.A single issue candidate ("I want to outlaw abortion") must be weighed with the other issues that are important to Catholics."You cannot navigate by one star alone."[pg 7]This book is an important read for Catholics and others who want to understand political issues from the perspective of Jesus' second commandment - to love your neighbor.As the authors say, "As followers of Christ and citizens of a democratic regime, we bear responsibility for justice and the common good."[pg 4] ... Read more

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Even in the industrial nineteenth century, age-old theological disagreements were the cause of religious and cultural conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. This book asks why these ancient divisions were so deep and have prevailed and how novelists and poets, theologians and preachers, historians and essayists reinterpreted the religious debates. Michael Wheeler explains how each side misunderstood the other's deeply held beliefs about history, authority, doctrine and spirituality, and, conversely, how these theological conflicts inspired creativity in the arts. ... Read more

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The new Catechism of the Catholic Church has focused attention upon the need for Catholics to renew their understanding of the key doctrines of their faith.In this concise catechism, Fr James Tolhurst offers a clear summary of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Jesus Christ, God, the Church, the Sacraments and Moral Law, cross-referenced to the full Catechism, to the relevant biblical passages and to the Second Vatican Council. Supplementing the catechism are a rich selection of prayers and a helpful subject index.An essential book for all Catholics who wish to incorporate in their lives the teaching contained in the new Catechism, this bestseller has established itself as indispensable for schools and parishes. Invaluable for all those seeking instruction in the faith.Fr James Tohurst DD is the author of many books on the faith and teaching of the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Like a compendium of the Compendium
Given its format -- Q&A -- and length -- 60 pages or so -- this little catechism is like a "compendium of the Compendium."Much like the authoritative Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this book provides crisp, succinct answers to questions about the Catholic faith.The difference here is that the language used is a bit less meditative, the questions posed a bit more practical, and the length reduced by about half.Moreover, the answers are more concise; hardly any go more than the length of a short paragraph.Highly recommended. ... Read more

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This is a New Edition of the Original Catholic Rite of Exocism, dedicated to branches of the Old Catholic Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Informative.
No speculation and secrecy.This book is of great importance. It shows the reader the words used to perform Exorcisms for centuries. Thank you Father Phelps. The afflictions are widespread and few Priests have any knowledge on this topic. ... Read more

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From Penitence to Charity radically revises our understanding of women's place in the institutional and spiritual revival known as the Catholic Reformation. Focusing on Paris, where fifty new religious congregations for women were established in as many years, it examines women's active role as founders and patrons of religious communities, as spiritual leaders within these communities, and as organizers of innovative forms of charitable assistance to the poor. Rejecting the too common view that the Catholic Reformation was a male-dominated movement whose principal impact on women was to control and confine them, the book shows how pious women played an instrumental role, working alongside--and sometimes in advance of--male reformers. At the same time, it establishes a new understanding of the chronology and character of France's Catholic Reformation by locating the movement's origins in a penitential spirituality rooted in the agonies of religious war. It argues that a powerful desire to appease the wrath of God through acts of heroic asceticism born of the wars did not subside with peace but, rather, found new outlets in the creation of austere, contemplative convents. Admiration for saintly ascetics prompted new vocations, and convents multiplied, as pious laywomen rushed to fund houses where, enjoying the special rights accorded founders, they might enter the cloister and participate in convent life. Penitential enthusiasm inevitably waned, while new social and economic tensions encouraged women to direct their piety toward different ends. By the 1630s, charitable service was supplanting penitential asceticism as the dominant spiritual mode. Capitalizing on the Council of Trent's call to catechize an ignorant laity, pious women founded innovative new congregations to aid less favored members of their sex and established lay confraternities to serve society's outcasts and the poor. Their efforts to provide war relief during the Fronde in particular deserve recognition. ... Read more

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A four year program designed to give those who participate in it a thorough knowledge of every book of the Bible, as well as the ability to teach and communicate it to others; uses critical and historical approaches and a wide range of teaching methods from lectures and written homework, to small group sharing and creative activities.
Old and New Testaments Concluded, The Word in the Hellenistic World examines the fascinating experience of both Jews and Christians as they establish and maintain their identity in the Greco-Roman world. This year of study covers many of the most neglected books of the Bible the wisdom literature, many other later writings (which some Christians and Jews do not include in their Bible) and the New Testament letters that Paul did not write. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teacher Guidebook instead of student edition !
The listing did not indicate that this was the teacher edition.; I needed the student edition.the book is in fair/good condition. ... Read more

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Gay and lesbians from Catholic backgrounds have struggled to reconcile their sexual orientation with the Church's strong anti-homosexual stance for generations. Some leave the church in despair while others suppress their sexuality in order to remain in the Church. Priest Shinnick argues that homosexuality should be seen as a gift from God, not a curse. He shows how attitudes to homosexuality have developed in different Christian denominations around the world and offers a careful re-reading of Catholic teaching. He calls for a genuine dialogue between the Church and gay and lesbian people and offers a guide to the paths such a dialogue could follow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

My meeting with the author
I met Fr. Maurice Shinnick for an hour in Adelaide, South Australia on February 27, 2002. For a number of years he was rector of the Adelaide Catholic Cathedral and has just been appointed new pastor ("parish priest" as they say Down Under).

He is a highly regarded priest in his archdiocese. He pioneered a pastoral program for people living with HIV/AIDS and is chaplain of ACCEPTANCE, an organization that supports gay and lesbian Catholics.

His book is dedicated to his brother Frank who recently died of AIDS, "a brother of generosity, courage and integrity, 1932-1996".

Significant is the the second quote under his brother's name: "The Bible contains six admonitions to homosexuals and three hundred and sixty-two admonitions to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God does not love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision." (Lynne Lavner)

His authograph on the title page of my copy of his book: "Larry, Respect for the dignity of every person knows no borders.Maurice Shinnick, 27.2.2002"

I heartily agree with Elizabeth Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of Glamorgan, Wales: "This book should be read by every bishop, priest and lay pastor in the Catholic Church as well as every gay or lesbian person who has concluded that being happily gay and Catholic is not possible."

A Plea for Humanity towards gay people in Catholicism.
For generations, gay and lesbian Roman Catholics (and ex-RCs) have been left bewildered by their Church's hostility.This appears to be in contradiction to the message of Christian charity, and the condemnationwhich they consistently encounter appears to have little foundation in theoriginal Scriptural sources.

Father Shinnick, whose work with AIDSsufferers and others led to an award from the Australian state, presents anew approach from an RC viewpoint, arguing that the positive aspects ofhomosexuality are ignored in the tumult of condemnation to which it issubjected.

Especially troubling is Fr Shinnick's association,illustrated by case-studies, of around thirty per cent of juvenile suicideswith a growing awareness of a homosexual identity.His voice, an informedappeal for understanding and acceptance, is one which well deserves ourattention.His work readily deserves to be read by both Catholics andnon-Catholics concerned with matters of human nature and sexuality. ... Read more

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This work brings to light the thoughts and practices of the "Liga de Damas Chilenas", an aristocratic Chilean Catholic women's organization. These women helped to shape their nation's discourse and practices on gender, women's social activism, democracy, politics, and nationalism. ... Read more

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This study is about the experiences of the people who served the American Catholic Church in religious orders and subsequently left those orders. This work reveals what aspects of their religious formation remained with them during the course of their lay lives and continue to inspire them, and what were the insurmountable problems for them when they tried to serve the Church within the framework of the traditional vows and communal life. ... Read more

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This book examines the uniqueness of Lacordaire and his approach to founding or refounding a religious congregation in the 19th century France. Rather than looking to the past or reacting against the society produced by the French Revolution, Lacordaire accepts the basic principles of the Revolution and wants to show the compatibility between these principles and the Catholic faith. The author shows how Lacordaire in his understanding of Dominicanism, did not seek so much to look to the past as to make the Order relevant to the time. ... Read more

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A comprehensive introduction to the liturgy of the Roman Rite, set within a broader consideration of Christian liturgies Eastern and Western (Byzantine, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, and Reformed). The central theme of the book is the life-creating, even deifying, communication between God and human beings. Part 1 deals with God's invitation to humanity to enter the divine fullness of life. This is God's descent or "katabasis." Part 2 concerned with humanity's acceptance of the invitation-the human ascent to God or "anabasis." Following this extensive treatment of the general nature of Christian liturgy are four sections devoted to particular subjects: the celebration of the Eucharist, the celebration of the sacraments, the liturgy of the hours and other services of the Word, and, finally, the liturgical year. ... Read more

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Archbishop Wynn Wagner, coadjutor of the North American Old Catholic Church and Regionary Bishop of the Southern Province, is no stranger to choosing a different path on which to follow one's faith. In his enlightening, compelling, and often humorous Recovering Catholic: How to be Catholic without being Roman Catholic, anyone who has questioned the direction of the Roman Catholic Church and has considered either changing denominations or leaving the church altogether will discover a new and satisfying path. How often do we receive honest, straightforward direction from a cleric whose credentials support his lineage of Apostolic Succession, who calls himself a recovering Catholic, and who refuses to proselytize? This book is not about convincing and/or alluring believers; it is about acknowledging the schism existing between the Roman Catholic and the Old Catholic churches and understanding that choices can be made freely, with our decisions rooted in knowledge, and without the guilt and threat of damnation too often heaped upon parishioners at every level of the Roman Catholic Church. Rather than consider this book an indictment, readers must recognize it for what is was intended to achieve: protection and encouragement for everyone who has suffered the dogma. Straight or gay, divorced or married, liberal or conservative, there is a place for you in the Christian world, a place where you will not be judged, provoked, humiliated, or even banned. This book is about finding your path and following it to a joyful and fulfilling life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Open and trusting dialogue that feels safe and genuinely light hearted.
I have a few issues when it comes to faith that I'm forever attempting to clear up. I feel that it's a lifelong process of understanding what kind of Christian to be. How literal do I take the Bible? How often do I go to church? Those kinds of things. I feel that the answer to this question, ultimately, is to be a better Christian tomorrow than I was yesterday. Thanks to Archbishop Wynn Wagner's book, "Recovering Catholic", I'm a little closer. Unlike most books about religion, which tend to assault you with the author's particular translation of the Bible, (which is naturally adversarial. Nobody likes to be talked at.) Wagner engages in an open and trusting dialogue with the reader that feels safe and genuinely light hearted.

Although his chief concerns are over the differences between Roman Catholicism and Old Catholicism, this is really a larger issue for the author than for the reader since the scope of the book encompasses a much wider view of all religion. And that is a vastly more interesting topic, which Wagner seems to admit by purposefully engaging the reader in larger discussions with each chapter.

Wagner uses a contemporary voice reminiscent of the voice in Sarah Vowell's books, and that makes his work much more readable than most religious books. As a general rule, I tend to avoid conversation with those who are strict about religion because the conversation takes on such a heavy load that it's impossible to carry. It becomes like driving down a road full of pot holes in a truck loaded with nitroglycerin. Wagner takes you from one topic to the next with relative ease, discussing with a profound love the works of Siddhartha Gautama, Galileo Galilei, and yes, Jesus Christ. The levity that he brings to the dialogue makes issues like child abuse manageable for those who get queasy and uncomfortable. It allows for a higher consideration to occur.

There is a lot of insight in "Recovering Catholic", not the least of which is that Roman Catholicism and Catholicism are two different sects. (Hey , that's news to me.) But the more important thing that you'll get is a wider researched, wider nuanced view of the questions that we ask ourselves as Christians. What does it mean that the Bible has been translated so often that today's version is really only a shadow of the original? What does it mean to be Episcopalian or Baptist or Mormon? Is there really on one right choice? Does religion really work like a game show where you try to guess the right door and behind one is eternal salvation and behind all the others is a lake of fire? It doesn't help that there are so many doors. Wagner engages these questions with a sense of comic timing and an eye towards contemporary reality that's refreshing. And that the book is so short makes it easy to go back through and engage in each point more thoroughly.

"Recovering Catholic" is really about how we deal with religion from day to day as human beings. It doesn't come from a soap box, but from flat on the Earth. It's an enlightening little book that will hold you firm to your convictions, or make you question everything. And I think Wagner would be happy with that, so long as you're willing to listen.

A Look At The Catholic Church but not the Roman Catholic Church
Recovering Catholic: How to be Catholic without being Roman Catholic

Recovering Catholic is yet another look at the world of GOD and Religion from the perspective of the Old Catholic Church.Archbishop Wynn Wagner uses his years of experience in the world of religion and spirituality to bring each of us to a delightfully humorous review of the things we've been told to believe and the things we've also found to be valid for us personally.He's able to share experiences from his own past along with presenting information for those seeking a better awareness of the nature of the Holy Eucharist and also our belief in the Love of GOD the Father, GOD the Son and GOD the Holy Spirit.Wynn makes it possible for each member of the Christian community to find comfort and relief in the world of the Catholic Church as a place where love is the message of our Almighty GOD.I have personally found this to be a very valuable addition to my collection of religious and spiritual readings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bring this along for the journey
Many Catholics have a renewed interest in studying the Bible and are actively participating in either group or individual scripture studies.This book is an interesting companion to scripture study, moving well beyond the initial question of which version to study and offering new and fresh perspectives on how, why and what to study.

Designed for group use, each of the book's nine chapters concludes with a series of interesting reflection questions.If you are interested in Bible study, but not part of an organized group, this book might also be a helpful launching point.It offers a fresh perspective and several helpful hints, as well as additional print and internet resources for scripture study. ... Read more

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Come and See: Genesis presents the 50 chapters of Genesis in a 22 chapter format. The intriguing adult commentary offers a view of creation with respect to natural science, biological science, geology and anthropology. Pope Benedict XVI s writings augment the commentaries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful insights!
I Ordered this book for a Bible study group that I joined recently.

I love all the references that makes of each chapter about other books in the Bible, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I like it so much, I will do the chapters I missed at the beginning on my own as well!Catechism of the Catholic Church, Gift Edition ... Read more

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“Why did it take 30 years for American bishops to listen to the victims of Catholic clerical abuse?”

Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct: Breaking the Silence is a compelling indictment of Roman Catholic teachings on homosexuality and sexuality. Inspired by The Silence of Sodom: Homosexuality in Modern Catholicism, Mark Jordan’s controversial examination of homoeroticism in American Catholic culture, this groundbreaking book examines how the current crisis of clerical abuse affects and stigmatizes gay priests living in a climate of hysteria and condemnation. The book’s contributors, an eclectic mix of scholars and clerics, question whether the church can survive centuries of secrets and scandals.

In the wake of very real concerns about a possible inquisition launched by the Catholic Church against its gay members, Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct continues the efforts of the Gay Men’s Issues in Religion Group of the American Academy of Religion to honor the work of Mark Jordan, who contributes his thoughts on the issues raised by the book. A panel of former Jesuits, a former seminarian with the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, a Dominican, a Franciscan, and several feminist authors present different perspectives on gay priests, clerical/ecclesial misogyny, games of power and abuse, and religious scapegoating, writing with eloquence and pain, a great deal of pride, and a touch of justifiable divine righteousness.

Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct includes:

• “Celibate Men, Ambivalent Saints, and Games of Desire”
  
• “A Call to Liberation of Gay Catholic Clergy”
  
• “Speaking Loud or Shutting Up: The Homosexual-type Problem”
  
• “Those Troubling Gay Priests”
  
• “Catholicism and a Crisis of Intimate Relations”
  
• and much more!

Customer Reviews (1)

Gay Catholic Priests
This book consists of gay men and feminists responding to the controversy in the Catholic Church in 2002, especially surrounding Cardinal Law and Father Geoghan.It questions and answers how so many gay men can actively work for a vocally homophobic institution.(I almost gasped when I read one contributor state, "I figured no man would ever love me anyway, so a job that required celibacy didn't seem difficult.")It also forcefully condemns how all gay priests are being equated with priests, of any sexual orientation, who molest children.They note that leaders of the Church would rather demonize gay priests than take the blame for letting criminal priests transfer from job to job.They show how Church leaders want to silence dissent.Priests are told to "be themselves" but also told to lie about their sexual orientation and sexually-active status.I do think the authors were speaking to themselves and the choir, but I think this would be a good read for both progressive and conservative, both pro-gay and bigoted, lay and clergy, members of the Catholic community.

This book continually repeats, "If gay [male] priests think they have it bad, think about all women who can't be leaders in the Church."This book is clearly inspired by Suzanne Pharr's "Homophobia: The Great Weapon of Sexism."The link between homophobia and misogyny is honorable, if not novel.Still, at one point, one female contributor opines, "I'm glad Mark Jordan didn't mention f*g h*gs [like Grace on the NBC hit series] in his book."Now, that's a stretch.

To be honest, while this book juggles religion, sex, and sexuality well, I thought it failed by not bringing up issues of race and nationality.So many white/Anglo priests lead non-white churches.Some opine that the answer to the priest shortage is to bring them from abroad, principally developing countries.I didn't appreciate the "whitewashing" of this anthology.

The authors are asked to respond to Mark Jordan's "The Silence of Sodom" and at the end he responds back.It turns into a love fest: the contributors praise him and he praises them back.This book could have been improved by including more critical voices.

The contributions were rich.For example, an Australian wrote, and so did an Episcopalian/Anglican.Still, this book was repetitive often.There's much "queer theory" speak here.They use "queer" at a time when most activists have abandoned that term in favor of "LGBT."I still have no idea with "nonhomohatred-conforming" means. ... Read more

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Living the Catholic Social Tradition combines four essays from leading scholars with eight concrete case studies based on community social justice projects across the country. This unique combination of theory and reflective practice provides university students and adult learners with a framework for understanding the Catholic social tradition and a demonstration of its positive social impact on the people it serves. The reader first learns about the challenges facing Catholic universities in educating the current generation about the Catholic social tradition. The next essays provide insights into the ways in which the tradition frames and contributes to social change; approaches to understanding the key concepts and documents that make up the tradition; and an understanding of the forces confronting change agents in major metropolitan areas. Undertaken by younger scholars and activists, the eight case studies tackle the issues that grass roots groups and visionary leaders face as they try to bring about positive change in their communities. ... Read more