Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power - Softcover

Dillon, Michele

Softcover

ISBN 10: 052163959X ISBN 13: 9780521639590

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

It has been well documented that American Catholics tend to be Catholics on their own terms, or choose to remain Catholic while selectively embracing official Church doctrine. But why do Catholics who disagree with official Church teachings on major issues such as homosexuality, women's ordination, or abortion, and are thus institutionally marginalized, choose to remain Catholic? Why do they stay, when the cost of staying and being stigmatized would seem to be greater than the benefits they might gain from switching to religious groups whose doctrines would validate their beliefs on these issues? Michele Dillon, drawing upon in-depth interviews with Catholics who are openly gay or lesbian, advocates of women's ordination, and pro-choice, investigates why and how pro-change Catholics continue to remain actively involved with the Church, despite their rejection of the Vatican's teaching on sexuality and gender.

About this title

Book Description:

Michele Dillon, drawing upon in-depth interviews with Catholics who are openly gay or lesbian, advocates of women's ordination, and pro-choice, investigates why and how pro-change Catholics continue to remain actively involved with the Church, despite their rejection of the Vatican's teaching on sexuality and gender.

About the Author:

Michele Dillon, Professor of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire, is author of "Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith and Power " and "Debating Divorce: Moral Conflict in Ireland." She edited "Handbook of the Sociology of Religion." Paul Wink, Professor of Psychology at Wellesley College, has written extensively on adult development and is coeditor, with J. James, of "The Crown of Life: Dynamics of the Early Post-Retirement Period."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 052163959X
• ISBN 13: 9780521639590
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300