Keep The Faith, Change The Church: The Battle By Catholics For The Soul Of Their Church - Hardcover

Muller, James; Kenney, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1579548903 ISBN 13: 9781579548902

Publisher: Rodale Books, 2004

Synopsis

A Defining Moment in the Life of the Church

Even before the terrible revelations of sexual misconduct and the cover-up that allowed such atrocities to continue happening, the Catholic Church was in trouble. With a devout but aging congregation giving way to a generation of so-called lapsed Catholics, the spiritual vitality and significance of the church had seemed, in the context of modern American society, to be ebbing away. Then when the scandal hit, even true believers were pitched into an all-out crisis of faith.

It was at this low point that a fiercely committed group of Catholics emphatically said, Enough! This book tells their inspiring story, the story of Voice of the Faithful, a grassroots organization formed to give the laity a voice in making their church a more effective spiritual and social force. The group came to realize that the underlying cause of the cover-ups and the failure of the church to adopt many needed changes is the abuse by some in the hierarchy of the excessive power they hold.

For too long, average Catholics have been disenfranchised. Now, with the growing success of Voice of the Faithful, there is finally a legitimate forum for the laity. As James E. Muller and Charles Kenney show in this urgent call to action, history is on the side of those who would stand up and be heard.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"Keep the Faith, Change the Church tells the highly readable story of a group of dynamic Catholics determined to improve their church. This fast-paced book is required reading for all who care about the future of the Catholic Church in the United States and throughout the world." --Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame

"I couldn't put Keep the Faith, Change the Church down. This moving and compelling narrative is balanced, moderate in tone, and, above all, faithful. It surely will bring us closer to a graced tipping point, closer to the time when a renewed church will embrace the voice and gifts of all its members." --Donald Cozzens, author of Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church and The Changing Face of the Priesthood

"It has been nearly forty years since the Second Vatican Council challenged the laity to more effectively involve themselves in carrying forth the message of Jesus Christ. Recent action by Voice of the Faithful is a reflection of the fact that at long last this challenge is taking root.... Today we see the church being influenced by the march of democracy. This transition will not be smooth or without pain, but it will come about." --Most Rev. John McCarthy, bishop emeritus of the Austin (Texas) diocese

"This powerful and lucidly written book chronicles the coming of a great Catholic renewal, a light out of darkness, when courageous men and women took responsibility for their faith and kept it alive. A book for all who love the Catholic Church."
--James Carroll, author of Constantine's Sword and Toward a New Catholic Church

POWER TO THE LAITY.... That's the positive message behind Voice of the Faithful, the Boston-based Catholic group that has come together in response to the shocking revelations of widespread sexual abuse and the concerted effort by the church hierarchy to cover up the problem. Starting out in the basement social hall of a suburban parish, Voice formed to help heal the hurt felt by so many of the faithful and soon grew into a formidable movement with a worldwide presence. Today, Voice is leading the call for sensible reform and providing a powerful voice for the laity in restoring the grace and goodness of the Catholic Church.

About the Author

James E. Muller, M.D., the founding president of Voice of the Faithful, is codirector of the CIMIT Vulnerable Plaque Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is also a founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, an organization that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985.

Charles Kenney is the author of three novels and three previous works of non-fiction, including John F. Kennedy: The Presidential Portfolio. He was a reporter and editor at the Boston Globe for sixteen years and now serves as a consultant in communications strategy for a variety of companies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rodale Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1579548903
• ISBN 13: 9781579548902
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 310