Off the Cuff and Over the Collar: Common Sense Catholicism

by John McCarthy, Jill Grimes (Contributor), Tom Borders (Contributor)

Bishop John McCarthy’s book, Off the Cuff & Over the Common Sense Catholicism is an enticing concoction of Tuesdays with Morrie blended with Catholicism 101 , topped with an added twist of Irish wit and decades of experience as a Roman Catholic priest. In over fifty bite-sized pieces, McCarthy clearly defines the Church’s position and as always, openly voices his opinions- including where they begin to diverge from recent years’ public stance of the Vatican. He addresses a variety of topics such as the infallibility of the Pope, abortion, divorce, saints, sacraments, bullying and teasing, nuns, Jews and Protestants. McCarthy tackles the shortage of priests, celibacy, homosexuality, birth control, the role of women in the Church, death and dying, and even heaven and hell, skillfully balancing the serious nature of these issues with his relaxed conversational tone and humor. Bishop John McCarthy speaks from the depth of his heart and faith, reaching out not only to currently practicing Catholics, but also to the millions of fallen away Catholics- the hurt, the disenfranchised, the indifferent, the divorced, the homosexual, the questioning agnostic, the liberals and the conservatives- even the self-professed “recovered Catholics”. McCarthy fully embraces the wonderful Apostolic Church that was envisioned in Vatican II, and stands ready to “ throw open those magnificent doors to the heart of the Catholic Church, and invite you in with love and joy .” Bishop McCarthy is buoyantly optimistic that the Church- though she moves slowly and deliberately- is ready for change, especially under the leadership of the Pope Francis, to whom this book is dedicated. The new pope’s immediate focus on simplification and service suggest indeed, a very common sense Catholicism. All profits from this book will benefit one of Bishop McCarthy’s favorite Saint Louise House… “empowering women with children to overcome homelessness.” Sister Sharon Groetsch, D.C., “Bishop McCarthy’s book is a wonderful response to a pressing need for ordinary Catholics (and the “Catholic-curious”) to bring simple, direct insights to the lay-public. Moreover, it’s fun! The Bishop’s style is conversational, clear, and well-laced with Irish humor. This is a quick and easy read, and a perfect pairing with your morning coffee.” Rabbi Alan R. Freedman, Temple Beth Shalom, "In an age when religion is increasingly coming under attack, John McCarthy has come forth with a book that is a resounding treatise on the virtues of a life of faith . While addressed to a primarily Catholic audience, Bishop McCarthy provides observations and lessons on life that apply to all people of faith. His lifelong concern for all people is reflected in every page, particularly in his consistent admonition to avoid bringing pain to others. There is a life lesson on every page of this book, and I encourage anyone seeking to live a better and more meaningful life to share in its words. The good Bishop has done it again!" Rev. Larry Covington , Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church, "Required reading for all current and former Catholics, and especially for seminarians and anyone engaged in the ministry! Here lies no pontification of a prelate long ensconced in a purple silk bureaucracy, but practical words for the common Joe. McCarthy’s common sense observations reflect his life as a provocative and sometimes controversial church leader who is, above all, a man who takes the task of being a good shepherd to heart."

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Warm and Wise View of the Catholic Church

On every page of this book you feel Bishop McCarthy's love for his church and for people. However, he recognizes that both people and the church have traditions and practices that drive them apart. I thought he did an excellent job giving his ideas on major social problems: divorce, homosexuality, bullying, sexual abuse of children by priests and the issue of celibacy of priests. Not everyone will agree with his suggestions, but they are worth reading and will make you think.

In the second part of the book, Bishop McCarthy discusses some of the traditions and practices of the Roman Catholic Church giving the history as well as discussing the practice. This section is worth reading whether you're Catholic or not if you're interested in an elucidation of some of the practices of the church that seem arcane to outsiders.

A third section of the book discusses how the church operates. How is the church financed; what do cardinals do; how are bishops chosen; and other topics? Again this is a good section for those people who have wondered about how the church operates. I didn't realize the severity of the priest shortage. It is interesting to see how the church is trying to solve this problem.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for both Catholics and non-Catholics who want to learn more about the Roman Catholic Church and have their horizons broadened by well-developed discussions of a number of social ills.

I reviewed this book for PR by the Book.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Off the Cuff and Under the Collar" by Bishop John McCarthy of Austin, Texas, in order to see what looking at Catholicism with common sense would mean. I was interested to see how Bishop McCarthy would explain some beliefs and some practices that have been controversial in the past. I was pleasantly surprised at the bishop's candid answers to certain aggravating questions that I have had regarding the Catholic Church. Not once did he go against the teachings of the church, but did explain why we believe what we do. He also indicated that he would be pleased if some of the issues in the church could be addressed and not glossed over by the church hierarchy. I was especially interested in his take on birth control, celibacy of priests, our relationship with our Jewish brethren, and the role of women in the church. There was not too much new there, but I was heartened by the bishop's desire that our church look more closely at these issues. Some of the practices of the church did not begin with its institution, but came about much later in church history and therefore, to my mind at least, deserve another look to see if those practices and rules are relevant in today's society. I think this is a good book for anyone interested in learning more about their own faith or those interested in the Catholic Church.

I was sent a free kindle copy of this book in return for my honest review.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-7m.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because of the one-star reviews on Amazon.com, especially the one that took a jab at "70's" Catholics. None of the one-star reviews told me anything about the writing, the pacing, the ease of immersion, or the content (other than to say that they judged it to be blasphemous. I would not down-rate a book because it disagreed with my beliefs, nor would I up-rate if it agreed with them for that matter. I am happy to have discovered this book. It reads like a reasoned conversation about topics that concern not only Catholics, but spiritual people as a whole. The Bishop was very careful to outline both traditional and personal positions on every topic, and gave me quite a bit of food for thought. I felt as though I were attending a course on Theology and the floor had been opened for discussion.
I have never met the Bishop, nor am I a member of his Parish, but I would love to sit down and talk with him.
As for my review - The writing is elegant and eloquent, and the pacing even. As to the matter of ease of immersion; this is not a book you can read in one sitting, it's the kind of book that benefits from reading and reflecting as you go along. Content wise, it is balanced and yes, controversial, but both sides are fairly drawn and represented.
*I requested and received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

[Rudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the proceeds go to the Saint Louise House, (http://www.saintlouisehouse.org), which is cool!

Bishop McCarthy's love for his Irish roots, his mother, and Catholicism are clear and wonderful!

The chapters read like homilies and most are quite good.

His critique of the Church and in particular its administration definitely push the envelop. I'm not sure Pope Francis would disagree with some of his suggestions. Nonetheless, he makes some great points. First, the mission of the church is evangelization. I love his suggestion that pastoral councils should spend time every month evaluating the effectiveness of their evangelization both foreign and local. Second, I like how he consistently reminds us that the threefold mission of every parish is the liturgy, education and social ministry. I think he missed an opportunity to talk about the value of the diaconate in social ministry. Perhaps that reflects a lack of understanding about the importance of huge diaconate which is not about supplementing a declining priesthood but true their institution in Acts, is about ministering in the secular workplace and beyond to those who can't come to church, those who don't come to church and those who won't come to church. Third, I appreciate his call to revive ecumenism.

Overall, I enjoyed the book!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if John McCarthy were still the Bishop of Austin, you would find me in church far more regularly. "Common Sense Catholicism" is a v. apt description of these essays.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

May come back to this later...