A Church in Search of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future

by Robert Blair Kaiser

A deeply informed look at the intensifying struggle over the future of the Catholic Church.

Robert Blair Kaiser examines the most important and divisive issues confronting the the sex abuse scandal, a shortage of priests due to the insistence upon celibacy, the ban on contraception, the roles of women in the Church, the increased participation of laypeople in Church affairs. He gives us an in-depth and behind-the-scenes view of six of the cardinals who gathered in Rome in April 2005 to choose a new pope and through them makes clear why Catholics worldwide are increasingly leaving the Church or defying Church doctrine. With passion and heartfelt concern, Robert Blair Kaiser brilliantly illuminates the issues and the combatants in the battle for the soul of the Catholic world.

261 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2006

Reviews

[Conrad Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recognizing the Catholic Church in multiple crises, the backcover says it well. "A deeply informed look at the intensifying struggle over the future of the Catholic Church." Focuses on what has happened, why and offers reforms for the church that should begin with its Center, the Vatican. Hope they will listen and act like Jesus would.

[Rolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good look at the men who may have been pope and at the man who did. It is very interesting to see what man has done and is doing to the faith that Jesus founded. It feels right to be a Catholic but sometimes I wonder why.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a Catholic and intend to stay one. But I am absolutely not uncritical of my beloved church, so Kaiser's book really hit the mark with me. His research is solid, his perspective clear and well stated, and his story of the election of B16 takes in much of modern church history.