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Practicing Catholic
A clear-eyed and personal examination of the Catholic faith, its leaders, and its complicated history by National Book Awardas 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 storie...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
April 1st 2009
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published 2009)
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I liked the parts of this where he laid out church history and related it to social trends, although in a lot of ways it was a riff on his documentary film Constantine's Sword (I think was the title) about Catholic anti-semitism. But these are weighty topics and it was good to have lots of context.
I also liked some of his personal experiences in the priesthood, and enjoyed the parts related to Boston culture/politics.
However, at least a third of this is rambling in a kind of precious w...more
I also liked some of his personal experiences in the priesthood, and enjoyed the parts related to Boston culture/politics.
However, at least a third of this is rambling in a kind of precious w...more
This book is the author’s story/biography detailing his journey from being a Catholic Christian to becoming a Christian Catholic. The author is one year older than me. Consequently, the book was particularly relevant to me because it is so much a part of my own spiritual and historical journey through the 50’s and 60’s up to the present. At times, the author can be too esoteric and theological but these are brief. There are also times I found myself disagreeing with the author’s line of reasoni...more
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I picked this up by chance because I was going to have to drive for several hours and needed an audio-book for the car. So, it was a pleasant surprise that I was quite taken with the book. The book is the story of Catholicism as experienced by Carroll. He was born in 1943, the same year as I, and many of the significant world events in his life are the events that also shaped my life, ,e.g., the assassination of the Kennedys, and of MLK, and the Vietnam War. He was raised an Irish Catholic and...more
Warning: this review may be a bit long. This book was thought-provoking, and I want to get some of those thoughts down, because the question I was hoping to answer by reading this book is a big one for me.
That question: should I leave the Catholic church? The reason side of me says an emphatic yes. After all, if I were given a choice to join an organization that openly discriminates against women in several ways (among other--let's face it--really big sins), would I choose to join? N...more
That question: should I leave the Catholic church? The reason side of me says an emphatic yes. After all, if I were given a choice to join an organization that openly discriminates against women in several ways (among other--let's face it--really big sins), would I choose to join? N...more
"Once a believer has learned to think historically . . . it is impossible any longer to think mythically," says James Carroll. I couldn't agree more. Ignorance of how our institutions have developed over time is as dangerous in the religious realm as in the secular (don't even get me started there). In this book, which is admittedly dense at times, Carroll interweaves the story of his own lifelong development as a Catholic with the larger history of the Church, a history that in and of...more
James Carroll is a 'bad catholic' in all the positive ways that term has been used over time. A former priest, a devout Catholic, a brilliant scholar and historian and a true poet, this quasi-memoir, quasi history of the Catholic Church in the 20th Century is a challenging and important set of thoughts, questions and conclusions about what it means, what it should mean, to be a Catholic today.
If I was a Catholic, this book would trouble me a lot. Even as a Protestant, I am not sure what to make of a brilliant and passionate ex=priest who denounces pope-centered Catholicism better than any Protestant could do, claiming to be a true American Catholic yet denying the deity of Christ.
This was interesting to read how J. Carroll explains how Vatican II held such high hopes for changing the Church - and how it went wrong when Pope John 23 died too soon. And how J23rd's successors (John Paul and Benedict) have tried to bring back the Church into its medieval role with an infallible Pope as its leader.
I learned a great deal from this book about church history. As a woman in the Catholic Church I have frustrated for decades over the rigidity of Rome and the lack of backbone in the current men who serve in the priesthood. I recommend this book to all Catholics who feel my frustration.
Sort of skimmed it because it was a fairly repetitive and emotive rehash of stuff I already knew. I don't want to make it sound too bad though, I think it has a lot of good insights on the recent history of the Roman Catholic Church sprinkled throughout.
it took a while--lots of ideas, history and vocabulary to consider--but it was worth it. my copy is dog-ear'd and I'll read it again. Would be good for a discussion group for theology students.
This book is having a strange effect on me. It almost makes me want to go to Church. I've come to terms with the fact that I have a really love/hate affair with the Catholic Church.
This title, by an award-winning author and ex-priest, is a historical exploration of the Catholic church and an analysis of current Catholic practices.
Wow - a book that does address alot of my concerns. We need a present day Cardinal Cushing!! to help change things from the inside out.
A must read for those of us who struggle to remain. Insightful and moving. His truth telling is staggering.
The book is exceptionally fine. I copied out his line: I loved my writing desk more than my chapel.
a very good "recent" history of the church and those that love it, while not loving the "CHURCH"
Two-and-a-half stars. Good job of arguing that the Catholic church no longer undergoes change through the power of the church hierarchy but instead changes and evolves according to the will of the people. A little too philosophical for my taste in places, but brings up some interesting points. Felt some of his arguments were a tad weak, but was reassured by his arguments that you can still remain a Catholic and not be a "bad" Catholic if you do not "follow the rules." Rec...more
Evolution of the American Catholic Church alongside that of the author.
April 2009
ummmm!!! not sure - beneath all the words is a traditionalist.
I think this is an important book for any Catholic to read. I found it to be very affirming and renewed my commitment to the faith, and to the Church.
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James Carroll was born in Chicago and raised in Washington, D.C. He has been a civil rights worker, an antiwar activist, and a community organizer in Washington and New York. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969 and served as Catholic chaplain at Boston University. Carroll left the priesthood to become a novelist and playwright. He lives in Boston with his wife, the novelist Alexandra Marshal...more
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