Practicing Catholic: The Search for a Livable Catholicism

by Penelope Ryan

Ryan (theology, Fordham U.) charts a path for educated adults who are trying to reconcile their modern lives with the teachings of an often conservative religion. She deals frankly with such difficult issues as papal infallibility, women in the priesthood, celibacy and the priesthood, birth control, abortion, annulments, and homosexuality in the church. Ryan takes a hard stance on some issues ("Don't baptize them if you won't ordain them" referring to women's exclusion from the priesthood), and also educates readers about changes that have already occurred. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

216 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Matthew Connolly]

Occasionally decent overviews of the history of Big Issue topics in the Church, but for the most part heavily biased in favor of a "progressive" stance on changes to the priesthood, abortion and contraception, homosexuality, etc., often with little attempt to explore the *current* counter arguments beyond a dismissive, incidental mention (e.g., the treatment of Adoremus).