Catholicism in Motion : The Church in American Society

by Davidson, James D.

• ISBN13: 9780764813450
• ISBN10: 0764813455
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-30
• Publisher: Liguori Pubns

Summary

"Catholicism in Motion" is a collection of articles by sociologist James D. Davidson, Ph.D., on issues facing Catholics in the United States. The book looks at the state of Catholicism in America past, present, and future, and at the average American Catholic from economical, political, social, and cultural standpoints. Part II of the book examines opportunities and challenges facing contemporary Catholics, including clergy issues and parish education. The final section is devoted to current beliefs and practices of American Catholics. Well-researched, this book is an informative collection of important data. It includes graphs and indexes for easy interpretation of what is presented. Every Catholic will find it enlightening and motivating, and all Church leaders will want to read this book. "Paperback"

Table of Contents

List of Tables	ix
Introduction	xi
Part I: Catholicism in America
History and Profile of American Catholics	3	(20)
What Is Your View of Religion's Role in Society?	3	(2)
The Origins of Religious Stratification in America	5	(2)
In-Group Virtues and Out-Group Vices	7	(1)
The First Amendment and Religion's Place in Society	8	(1)
Competing Models of Catholicism in America	9	(2)
Dramatic Improvements in the Status of American Catholics	11	(2)
Catholics Still Underrepresented but Nearing Parity in Who's Who	13	(1)
How Many Catholics Are There in the United States?	14	(2)
A Racial Profile of American Catholics	16	(2)
Catholics Are Largest Religious Group Among New Immigrants	18	(1)
Catholic Population Trends in the Fifty States	19	(2)
Questions for Reflection	21	(2)
The Social and Cultural Context	23	(13)
Is Society Increasingly Secular?	23	(2)
Number of Religious ``Nones'' Is Increasing: Why?	25	(1)
Are People More Spiritual but Less Religious?	26	(2)
Four Traits of Postmodern Culture	28	(2)
A Person's Religion Is More Visible Than You Might Think	30	(1)
Is It True? Do Birds of a Feather Really Flock Together?	31	(2)
Why Some Religious Groups Get Along Better Than Others	33	(2)
Questions for Reflection	35	(1)
Religion, the Economy, and Politics	36	(27)
The Church Has an Enormous Economic Impact	36	(2)
Religion's Economic Impact Far Greater Than Many Realize	38	(1)
Gap Between Rich and Poor Still Growing	39	(2)
A Critique of the Government's Poverty Line	41	(2)
Catholics Helped Put ``Under God'' in the Pledge of Allegiance	43	(2)
When and Why Was ``In God We Trust'' Put on Our Money?	45	(1)
The Real Reason Churches Cannot Endorse Political Candidates	46	(1)
The Religious Affiliations of U.S. Presidents	47	(2)
Religion a Factor in Presidents' Appointments to the Cabinet	49	(2)
The Religion of U.S. Presidents and Their Appointees to the Supreme Court	51	(2)
How Catholics Vote	53	(1)
George W. Bush and the Catholic Vote	54	(2)
Red States, Blue States: It's About Religion	56	(2)
Questions for Reflection	58	(5)
Part II: Organizational Issues in the Church
Parishes, Schools, and Other Catholic Institutions	63	(18)
Four Views of Church: Which Do You Favor?	63	(2)
The Golden Age of American Catholicism, Statistically Speaking	65	(2)
Parish Report Card: An A-, Three Bs, and a C+	67	(2)
Catholic Parishes Are More Integrated Than Other Local Churches	69	(1)
New Study Describes Latino Faith Communities	70	(2)
Does Your Parish Perpetuate Inequality, or Promote Equality?	72	(2)
When Are Affluent Churches Most Involved in Social Ministry?	74	(1)
Dramatic Changes in Catholic Schools, Students, and Teachers	75	(3)
Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Increase Financial Contributions	78	(2)
Questions for Reflection	80	(1)
Challenges With Authority, Sexual Abuse, and Other Problems	81	(18)
Study Shows Which Catholics Know Their Bishop	81	(2)
How Many Parishioners and Which Ones Read Diocesan Newspapers?	83	(1)
Are Church Leaders Out of Touch With the Laity?	84	(2)
Is the Church's Teaching Authority Important to Catholics?	86	(1)
Decline in Recognition of Episcopal Authority	87	(2)
The Sexual Abuse Scandal, Bishops, and the Media, as Seen by the Laity	89	(1)
Interpreting the Data on the Sexual Abuse Scandal	90	(2)
Types of Authority in Today's Church	92	(2)
Studies of Giving Contain Good News and Bad News	94	(1)
The Laity's Perceptions of Problems in the Church	95	(2)
Questions for Reflection	97	(2)
Leadership: Priests, Deacons, and Lay Ministers	99	(26)
American Catholicism and Global Catholicism	99	(2)
A Week in the Life of a Parish Priest	101	(1)
Generational Differences Among Priests	102	(2)
Comparing the Ages of Priests and Laypeople	104	(1)
Historical View of the Priest Shortage	105	(2)
A Rational Choice Explanation for the Decline in Vocations	107	(1)
Newly Ordained Priests: Who Stays and Who Leaves the Priesthood?	108	(2)
The Laity's Views on Coping With the Priest Shortage	110	(2)
Do Other Churches Also Face a Clergy Shortage?	112	(2)
The Permanent Diaconate: The Promise and the Problems	114	(2)
Lay Ministers Have Lots of Experience, Dedication, and Faith	116	(1)
Challenges Facing Lay Ministers in Their Work With the Laity	117	(2)
The Spiritual Practices of Lay Ministers	119	(1)
Questions for Reflection	120	(5)
Part III: The Beliefs and Practices of American Catholics
Why Catholics Think and Act the Way They Do	125	(8)
Learning Theory Explains Some Differences Among Laity	125	(2)
Understanding Changes and Inconsistencies in Human Behavior	127	(1)
Values and Interests Affect the Way We Act	128	(2)
Attitudes and Behavior: A Two-Way Street	130	(2)
Questions for Reflection	132	(1)
Catholic Identity and Commitment to the Church	133	(13)
On Being Catholic and Ecumenical in a Pluralistic World	133	(2)
Catholic Identity Not the Same as Commitment	135	(2)
What It Means to Be Catholic	137	(1)
The Importance of Commitment to the Church	138	(2)
Religious Commitment and Public Policy: Is There a Connection?	140	(1)
What Effect Does the Church Have on Civic Participation?	141	(2)
The Meaning of Your Work: Is It Job, Career, or Calling?	143	(2)
Questions for Reflection	145	(1)
Catholics' Beliefs and Practices	146	(24)
What Does ``Tradition'' Mean to You?	146	(2)
A Profile of Parishioners and Nonparishioners	148	(2)
Three Keys to a Close Relationship With God	150	(2)
Why Is Mass Attendance Declining?	152	(2)
The Latest Data on Participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation	154	(1)
Interfaith Marriage Is Increasing	155	(2)
The Effect of Group Size on Interfaith Marriage Rates	157	(2)
Catholics Increasingly Marrying Outside the Church	159	(2)
Laity Distinguishing Between Core and Periphery	161	(1)
What Catholics Say About the Importance of the Eucharist	162	(2)
What Catholics Believe About the Real Presence	164	(1)
Catholics Generally Agree on Church's Social Teachings	165	(2)
Catholics' Views on Abortion: Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?	167	(2)
Questions for Reflection	169	(1)
Generations and Other Influences	170	(21)
Catholic Parents Are Teaching Children to Think for Themselves	170	(2)
The Religious Education of Baby Boomers and Generation-X Catholics	172	(2)
The Elusive Spirituality of Generation-X Catholics	174	(2)
One Church, Two Cultures?	176	(2)
Who Are the Conservative Young Catholics?	178	(1)
Are Young Catholics Increasingly Orthodox?	179	(2)
Are Millennial Catholics Different?	181	(2)
Anglo and Hispanic Catholics: Similarities and Differences	183	(1)
Converts Are More Active and Traditional Than Cradle Catholics	184	(2)
Catholic Men and Women Not From Different Planets	186	(2)
Young Women More Alienated Than Young Men	188	(2)
Questions for Reflection	190	(1)
Notes	191	(6)
Index	197