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One Church: How to Rekindle Trust, Negotiate Difference, and Reclaim Catholic Unity
Vatican II baby boomers, trad millennials, zealous converts, Christmas and Easter Catholics—these are some of the humorous stereotypes theologian Charles Camosy uses to explain the points of view that divide today’s Church. He says that in spite of our differences, unity and healing can be found through the fullness of the Gospel and an authentic understanding of the Catholic faith. In One Church , Camosy offers a hopeful and practical field guide for the here and now by sharing what it takes to listen and love those whose views are different than ours and to understand how we are united in the Body of Christ, the Church. Throughout the history of the Catholic Church there have always been fundamental differences about how the faith should be expressed—for example, between Peter and Paul, Jerome and Augustine, Franciscans and Dominicans, left and right, “Rad Trads” and Vatican II Catholics. In today’s climate of polarization, getting to unity-in-diversity has never been more difficult. Where Sts. Jerome and Augustine shared their differences by letter, social media is the place where division is most noticeable—and vitriolic—today. Camosy, founder and director of The Catholic Conversation Project, offers five principles of dialogue to build on our unity as the Body of
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 6, 2022
I received a free copy of, One Church, by Charles C. Camosy, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, Covid did hurt the church and Catholics, not being able to go to mass, and celebrate mass with fellow Catholics. A lot of people fell away from the church, this is a great book on why Catholicism has been around for so ;long, and how to keep it around.
April 16, 2023
I loved this book—it was a stretch to read and yet somehow, in the true professorial style, Camosy made me enjoy the challenge of my stance being debunked. His wit and style could leave you thinking you’re just going to be amused, but no—there is lots of meat to keep toy pondering long after you’ve sworn off cheering for the Cardinals.
February 25, 2023
I have refined the skill of not reading books cover-to-cover. I blew through Camosy’s book in a few days. Cover-to-cover. Camosy has used a deft and delicate hand, self-effacing humor, contrariness, self-disclosure, and self-examination in his description of the Catholic Church at this time. This was a voice I wanted and needed to listen to.
Camosy identifies our inclination to caricature and dismiss those we disagree with. He then affirmingly critiques without falling into the error of snarkiness. Finally, like a good doctor, he provides a prescription and antiseptic. By the way he writes, he sets an example of his prescription: treat every person, every other, with the dignity inherent in them.
Camosy respectfully addresses the things that too often lead us to be enraged, dismissive, or condescending toward various groups: the Spirit-of-Vatican-II Boomer, the Trad Millennial, the Gen Z “None, no interest in organized religion,” the Newbie Convert, the Single-Issue Pro-Life Activist, the Progressive Professor, the Immigrant Parent, the Christmas and Easter Catholic, the Seemingly Standoffish Parish Priest. He gently disarms each of these caricatures, showing how people are more complicated than a label. He also evenhandedly and charitably challenges each of us who tend to think and act like any of these groups.
Camosy doesn’t just speak vaguely about “traditionalists,” “conservatives,” and “liberals.” He names people. He then gives us anecdotes of how this traditionalist or conservative doesn’t just meet the liberal criteria for social justice, but exceeds it, outdoing the Liberal Catholic. He names the Liberal Catholic who doesn’t pay passing lip service to the dignity of the traditionalist or conservative, but who extols the virtues of the Latin Mass and the profound, unwavering commitment to the life of the unborn. Catholics don’t fit now, and never have, into categories of Left and Right; we fit into one category: Those who have committed ourselves to Jesus Christ and His beloved community of friends.
Camosy shows how vastly diverse Catholics can be, and how our convictions—as important as they are—can cast dark shade over what must be our deepest conviction if we are to be, viscerally, the Body of Jesus: Each individual and each set of like-minded, like-oriented groups must explicitly and unequivocally establish that whatever religious impulse, conviction, unique charism, quirk, personality, or liturgical preference impels them, the ‘other brother’, the ‘other sister’ who calls themselves Catholic, is Jesus the Christ.
Camosy identifies our inclination to caricature and dismiss those we disagree with. He then affirmingly critiques without falling into the error of snarkiness. Finally, like a good doctor, he provides a prescription and antiseptic. By the way he writes, he sets an example of his prescription: treat every person, every other, with the dignity inherent in them.
Camosy respectfully addresses the things that too often lead us to be enraged, dismissive, or condescending toward various groups: the Spirit-of-Vatican-II Boomer, the Trad Millennial, the Gen Z “None, no interest in organized religion,” the Newbie Convert, the Single-Issue Pro-Life Activist, the Progressive Professor, the Immigrant Parent, the Christmas and Easter Catholic, the Seemingly Standoffish Parish Priest. He gently disarms each of these caricatures, showing how people are more complicated than a label. He also evenhandedly and charitably challenges each of us who tend to think and act like any of these groups.
Camosy doesn’t just speak vaguely about “traditionalists,” “conservatives,” and “liberals.” He names people. He then gives us anecdotes of how this traditionalist or conservative doesn’t just meet the liberal criteria for social justice, but exceeds it, outdoing the Liberal Catholic. He names the Liberal Catholic who doesn’t pay passing lip service to the dignity of the traditionalist or conservative, but who extols the virtues of the Latin Mass and the profound, unwavering commitment to the life of the unborn. Catholics don’t fit now, and never have, into categories of Left and Right; we fit into one category: Those who have committed ourselves to Jesus Christ and His beloved community of friends.
Camosy shows how vastly diverse Catholics can be, and how our convictions—as important as they are—can cast dark shade over what must be our deepest conviction if we are to be, viscerally, the Body of Jesus: Each individual and each set of like-minded, like-oriented groups must explicitly and unequivocally establish that whatever religious impulse, conviction, unique charism, quirk, personality, or liturgical preference impels them, the ‘other brother’, the ‘other sister’ who calls themselves Catholic, is Jesus the Christ.
February 26, 2023
I had high hopes for this book and agreed with the main premise that we need to talk to each other and get a fuller picture of "opposite sides" of issues, so I was very disappointed to see the complete ignoring of one side of the pro-life/pro-choice issue. I got the impression that the author might even not consider me a Catholic because I didn't agree with his pro-life position. It's rather disingenuous to "thicken" one side of an issue and completely ignore the other, especially when you have gone to great lengths to show both sides of many of the other issues addressed and in conflict in the church today. I gave the book 3 stars because it is a good way to approach the conflicts that we have.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
July 20, 2023
A good look at unity from a Catholic perspective. Adds to the overall conversation well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews