Toward A New Catholic Church: The Promise of Reform – An Agenda for Democracy and Essential Understanding

by James Carroll

Elaborating on “A Call for Vatican III” in his best-selling book Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews, James Carroll proposes a clear agenda for reform to help concerned Catholics understand the most essential issues facing their Church. He moves beyond current events to suggest new ways for Catholics to approach Scripture, Jesus, and power, and he looks at the daunting challenges facing the Church in a world of diverse beliefs and contentious religious fervor. His case for democracy within the Church illustrates why lay people have already initiated change. Carroll shows that all Catholics -- parishioners, priests, bishops, men and women -- have an equal stake in the Church's future.

Genres: Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

James Carroll was born in Chicago and raised in Washington, D.C. He has been a civil rights worker, an antiwar activist, and a community organizer in Washington and New York. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969 and served as Catholic chaplain at Boston University. Carroll left the priesthood to become a novelist and playwright. He lives in Boston with his wife, the novelist Alexandra Marshall, and their two children.

Reviews

[Aldean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the first "progressive" book I ever read, and not a bad one. Many of Carroll's sincere suggestions are worth considering. But I couldn't help feeling throughout that there is a barely-veiled bitterness lurking behind every page, bittereness particularly regarding his status as a former Catholic priest, which put me off slightly. But that aside, an intense little volume, well-written and bound to provoke much discussion.