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A Faith Interrupted: An Honest Conversation with Alienated Catholics
According to a recent estimate, seventeen million baptized American Catholics are inactive. Whether this alienation is the result of a gradual slipping away, an incident of mistreatment, or simple uncertainty about one’s faith or beliefs, there is hope for those who are looking to make peace with the church. In A Faith Interrupted , authors Alice Camille and Joel Schorn serve as compassionate mediators in a conversation with disaffected Catholics, providing a place for people to clarify what went wrong and identify options for reconciliation and reunion. This book not only explores some of the reasons why Catholics leave the church and offers guidance for those contemplating a return, but also outlines basic principles of the faith, looks at key elements that make up the Catholic identity, and simplifies issues of theology and Church teaching. Also included are helpful tips on finding the right parish and using spiritual tools to arrive at a better understanding of what one wants from the church. A Faith Interrupted seeks to help readers heal past hurts and find hope for the future.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
3 people want to read
About the author
Alice Camille
39 books4 followersAlice Camille is an author, religious educator, and retreat leader. She received the Master of Divinity degree from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. Alice takes the business of God seriously and religion with a sense of humor. See more of her work at www.alicecamille.com"
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 23, 2024
TWO CATHOLIC AUTHORS WROTE FOR THOSE EXPLORING THE IDEA OF 'REUNION'
The authors state in the introductory section of this 2004 book, "We'll put our cards on the table at the start. We're Catholics. And we're hoping to begin a conversation with those who once called themselves Catholic but are no longer sure that name applies... If being Catholic has been a problem for you, it may be a relief to know you're part of a bid club. An estimated seventeen million baptized American Catholics are inactive...
"A church... with sacraments dedicated to our wholeness---has to provide a soft landing for those who have journeyed out and may be looking for a way back in... If healing and hope are the results of this conversation, they alone are worth the price of admission! For those who decide to explore the possibility of reconciliation and reunion with the church, we'll also provide the information needed to begin that work." (Pg. ix-x)
They add, "After examining what makes the Catholic experience stall for many, we'll pursue some of the reasons Catholics stay in the church or return to it. We'll explore how the life of the church in its fulness can name and give meaning to our everyday experiences, consecrating our relationships, achievements, failures, and lessons as holy ground,,,
"In the end, we hope to assist in the clarification of what happens next... We'll also point out paths you can take to strengthen your spiritual journey." (Pg. xiii) And finally, "we recognize that for some, reconciliation with the church will be out of the question at this time or until hell (or the Vatican!) freezes over. For those who will take their leave of us at any point in this conversation, we hope you will take a blessing and the peace of Christ with you." (Pg. xv-xvi)
They admit in the first chapter, "There are a million reasons why people leave the church---or, more accurately, seventeen million reasons in this country alone, one for each person who currently relates to the term ex, lapsed, former, nonpracticing, retired, or, the hippest phrase, recovering Catholic.
"Of all the reasons we hear for this migration, nearly none could be described as frivolous, any many are quite poignant. The most common theme... is a variation on the idea of 'alienation of affection,' a term used to contain the world of hurt involved in the death of a marriage. Once there was love... But one side, or perhaps both parties, broke trust, and nothing has been done to reestablish what was lost." (Pg. 2-3)
They note, "Very, very few people who feel compelled to leave the church cite the service role of the church as the reason for their departure. More often those who leave the institutional church remain 'Catholic' in their responsiveness to the poor and their keen sense of justice for the afflicted." (Pg. 77)
They acknowledge, "Generations of Catholics have been separated from their church through the specter of a broken marriage. It was insult added to injury: the heartbreak of a crucial relationship shattered was too often met with silence, if not outright accusation, on the part of church officials. Spouses in abusive situations were counseled to remain in them for the sake of the sacrament or the children. Spouses in loveless unions were told it was their responsibility to lie in the be they had made for themselves... It was a horrible miscalculation of pastoral action: to 'protect' the sacrament at the expense of the people for whom it was intended." (Pg. 94)
They suggest, "Many who have been away from church for a while feel uneasy about crashing the Sunday service unannounced, so to speak, after all this time. So they may prefer to attend a daily Mass, which is smaller, quieter, and seems less demanding all around. It should be noted that the daily Mass crowd has quite a different character than the Sunday assembly... The pace of the service will be quicker, with little or no music, fewer readings, and often no homily by the priest, in consideration of those who are on their way to work, or on lunch break, or on their way home, depending on the time of day." (Pg. 118)
Inactive or alienated Catholics---particularly those giving consideration to opening up relations with the church again---may find this book helpful, as a starting point.
The authors state in the introductory section of this 2004 book, "We'll put our cards on the table at the start. We're Catholics. And we're hoping to begin a conversation with those who once called themselves Catholic but are no longer sure that name applies... If being Catholic has been a problem for you, it may be a relief to know you're part of a bid club. An estimated seventeen million baptized American Catholics are inactive...
"A church... with sacraments dedicated to our wholeness---has to provide a soft landing for those who have journeyed out and may be looking for a way back in... If healing and hope are the results of this conversation, they alone are worth the price of admission! For those who decide to explore the possibility of reconciliation and reunion with the church, we'll also provide the information needed to begin that work." (Pg. ix-x)
They add, "After examining what makes the Catholic experience stall for many, we'll pursue some of the reasons Catholics stay in the church or return to it. We'll explore how the life of the church in its fulness can name and give meaning to our everyday experiences, consecrating our relationships, achievements, failures, and lessons as holy ground,,,
"In the end, we hope to assist in the clarification of what happens next... We'll also point out paths you can take to strengthen your spiritual journey." (Pg. xiii) And finally, "we recognize that for some, reconciliation with the church will be out of the question at this time or until hell (or the Vatican!) freezes over. For those who will take their leave of us at any point in this conversation, we hope you will take a blessing and the peace of Christ with you." (Pg. xv-xvi)
They admit in the first chapter, "There are a million reasons why people leave the church---or, more accurately, seventeen million reasons in this country alone, one for each person who currently relates to the term ex, lapsed, former, nonpracticing, retired, or, the hippest phrase, recovering Catholic.
"Of all the reasons we hear for this migration, nearly none could be described as frivolous, any many are quite poignant. The most common theme... is a variation on the idea of 'alienation of affection,' a term used to contain the world of hurt involved in the death of a marriage. Once there was love... But one side, or perhaps both parties, broke trust, and nothing has been done to reestablish what was lost." (Pg. 2-3)
They note, "Very, very few people who feel compelled to leave the church cite the service role of the church as the reason for their departure. More often those who leave the institutional church remain 'Catholic' in their responsiveness to the poor and their keen sense of justice for the afflicted." (Pg. 77)
They acknowledge, "Generations of Catholics have been separated from their church through the specter of a broken marriage. It was insult added to injury: the heartbreak of a crucial relationship shattered was too often met with silence, if not outright accusation, on the part of church officials. Spouses in abusive situations were counseled to remain in them for the sake of the sacrament or the children. Spouses in loveless unions were told it was their responsibility to lie in the be they had made for themselves... It was a horrible miscalculation of pastoral action: to 'protect' the sacrament at the expense of the people for whom it was intended." (Pg. 94)
They suggest, "Many who have been away from church for a while feel uneasy about crashing the Sunday service unannounced, so to speak, after all this time. So they may prefer to attend a daily Mass, which is smaller, quieter, and seems less demanding all around. It should be noted that the daily Mass crowd has quite a different character than the Sunday assembly... The pace of the service will be quicker, with little or no music, fewer readings, and often no homily by the priest, in consideration of those who are on their way to work, or on lunch break, or on their way home, depending on the time of day." (Pg. 118)
Inactive or alienated Catholics---particularly those giving consideration to opening up relations with the church again---may find this book helpful, as a starting point.
November 19, 2014
I read this book while waiting for another book by Joel Schorn to arrive at the library. This is a very gentle persuasion and how-to guide for returning to the Catholic faith. It lacks the meat of Matthew Kelley's Rediscover Catholicism, but is even more open minded. Camille and Schorn's audience is not only non-practicing Catholics, but those who remain disgruntled from within the Church. This book is not at all preachy and will not make anyone feel guilty . The book acknowledges people's many reasons for leaving the church and gives some reasons to come back. It mentions some parishes that have support groups for the divorced, the gay community, and other groups not usually associated with the Catholic church. It encourages finding the right parish and finding the right groups within a parish to keep your faith alive.
There's not a lot of chat about Jesus or the guts of Catholicism. For that, I would recommend Rediscover Catholicism.
There's not a lot of chat about Jesus or the guts of Catholicism. For that, I would recommend Rediscover Catholicism.
August 8, 2011
Having heard Alice speak, I needed to read her insights into the reasons so many Catholics are now considered "former" Catholics. This is a good book for anyone in the Church to revisit every now and then for perspective.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews