American Church: The Remarkable Rise, Meteoric Fall, and Uncertain Future of Catholicism in America

by Russell Shaw

Has the Americanization of American Catholics--their cultural assimilation, that is--been a blessing or a curse for the Church in the United States? Or has it been a bit of both? In The Gibbons Legacy Russell Shaw takes a searching look at that question and reaches a disturbing conclusion. Cultural assimilation, which was ardently championed by churchmen like the great Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore around the turn of the last century, has undoubtedly conferred many benefits on Catholics. Their absorption into the secular culture of America, however, now threatens the Catholic identity of millions of faithful and of their institutions, such as schools, universities, and hospitals. Shaw does not offer this conclusion as an unsupported generalization. The Gibbons Legacy is a richly documented analysis of a process extending over two centuries. Colorful characters and dramatic incidents abound, including the nineteenth-century intellectual feud between Father Orestes Brownson and the Transcendentalist convert to Catholicism Isaac Hecker, Pope Leo XIII's condemnation of Americanism, the anti-Catholicism that greeted the presidential campaigns of Al Smith and John F. Kennedy, and the numerous intra-Church conflicts that have divided American Catholics since the Second Vatican Council. In concluding his study, Shaw offers a number of thoughtprovoking suggestions about what the Church in America needs to do now in the face of an ongoing decline that is sapping its strength and may threaten its very survival.

Genres: Catholic, Religion

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2013

About the author

Russell Shaw is a widely published author and journalist who has written twenty previous books, including To Hunt, To Shoot, To Entertain: Clericalism and the Catholic Laity and Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication, and Communion in the Catholic Church. For 18 years, Shaw directed media relations for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference. From 1987 to 1997 he oversaw media relations for the Knights of Columbus. Since resigning from that position, he has worked full time as a freelance writer.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was received into the Catholic Church in 2007 and so have a very narrow window to understand how the American Catholic Church got to be the way it is: in a state of decline. Russell Shaw lays it out. Americanism, the desire to be a good Catholic and a good American, that Catholics are the best Americans, in fact, took the Church off course. I see now that "Catholics" like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are as they are because they are Americans first and Catholics loyal to Jesus Christ second. Things look pretty bleak for the Church in America, but Mr. Shaw does offer some suggestions for the future. I'm not sure how they'd 'flesh out', so if any other readers have some ideas, I'd like to read them. One thing I do believe needs to happen for the future, though, is explained on p. 208 when Mr. Shaw quotes a 'wise friend' who said, "The biggest problem of all --- and the cause of all the rest --- is that we haven't preached holiness." Amen. When is the last time your pastor urged you to live a holy life? I hear exhortations to 'love, love love' but never an explanation of what that looks like, and without a foundation of holiness, 'love' can go horribly awry. Still, I'm thankful to be in the Catholic Church and will do all I can do to strengthen her as long as God gives me breath.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to some of the big names in 19th and 20th century Catholicism, and some of the formative-elements - especially the philosophy condemned by Pope Leo XIII under the title of Americanism. "American Church" is written by a journalist, and so his observations come from the standpoint of communication, rather than the application of a rigorous historical method, which I find to be a weakness of the book; I also find it to be a tad too polemical and sensationalist (all of the main-influences on the construction of the Church in America can be described as negative: Americanism, clericalism, ghetto-mentality, anti-Catholic sentiment, and relativism seem to be the cardinal-points).

Despite its weaknesses, there is some very valuable information in the book, especially where the author adds his own experience as an undergraduate at Georgetown University in the 50s, and the struggle of Catholic colleges and universities to attain respect in the academic arena - leading to their near-abandonment of Catholic identity with the so-called Land o' Lakes document. With the exception of persons interested in a communications-based deepening of knowledge regarding Americanism, I stop short of actively recommending it, though.

Quotable:

"Only God can make a tree, but this is a school [Notre Dame] that makes money from the shrubbery" (158-159).

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very timely diagnosis of the state of our Church in America that traces the process of Americanization (largely heirs of "the Gibbons Legacy") through its contact, for better or for worse, with democratic secular values (by better I mean to distinguish, as Shaw does pace Charles Taylor, secular from dogmatic secularism). He revisits the once hotly contested but since uncritically accepted position: is Catholicism really compatible, even complimentary, with American democracy? Of course, Shaw suggests it is not black and white, but he pulls from interesting historical events to build his case. The book is, I find, surprisingly commendable for its balanced prose (it's a welcome change from a voice like George Weigel). That it is published by Ignatius Press (no disrespect) will unfortunately narrow it's readership, but it could stand its ground in a broader, less sympathetic audience. From a faithful Catholic, it will certainly increase your awareness of how we got where we are and what it has to do with where we are going.

[Wendy Wong Schirmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

...should be required reading for anyone teaching CCD/PREP or who is involved in adult faith formation.

[Michael Cates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goo Read

A well-written book that explores the successes and failures of the Church in America. I hope that we can write a book on how our church bounced back.

[Rev. M. M. Walters]

The book has a number of good points. Shaw clearly explains the opposing currents in the development of the Catholic Church in America. Briefly put they are the progressive drive to assimilate into the American democratic society (we want to be like everybody else) and the conservative drive to be something separate and distinct (more Roman than Rome). While he may not totally agree with the conservative position, it is apparent from some of the comments he makes in the book that Shaw leans in that direction. In some ways, the book is an example of the "everything that came after Vatican II was a disappointment" school of thought, and although he tries to put a hopeful face on in the last chapter, he sees more downfall than rise in the future. I do tend to agree with the points he raises: evangelisation; empowerment of the laity; ending clericalism and secrecy. It's just that I have a more optimistic view of the way things are going. It may be that the book is already dated from its 2013 publication date. The "Francis Effect" of the last five years is still working its way into the structures, hearts and minds of the Church. As Pope Francis continues to guide the Church with his non-European vision, we shall see if the doom and gloom of a post-Christian world is truly justified.