New Catholic Encyclopedia, Second Edition (15 Vol. Set)

Since 1967, the New Catholic Encyclopedia, cited by Library Journal as one of the top 50 reference sources of the millennium, has been a standard in public, academic and high school libraries worldwide. Prized for its scholarly presentation of persons and subjects related to Catholicism and the humanities, the Encyclopedia is the first place you turn when your users have questions on topics such as abortion, divorce, witchcraft and tolerance. Gale, together with The Catholic University of America, is proud to announce a new and updated edition of this multi-volume set -- the first updated edition in more than 30 years.

This revised edition features contributions from hundreds of scholars from all over the world, under the guidance of Catholic University of Americas Reverend Berard Marthaler, O.F.M.Conv. and Gale. Incorporating content from the five supplementary volumes to the first edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, this edition also features revised and new articles. Among the 12, 000 entries in the Encyclopedia are articles on theology, philosophy, history, literary figures, saints, musicians and much more.

What impact did Catholicism have on Shakespeare? What role does music play in religious worship? Why is the fish a Christian symbol? What did John Paul II have to do with the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe? Whats the difference between the Catholic and Protestant

Grade 9 Up-Incorporating and updating articles from the 1967 set and the four supplements (1972, 1978, 1988, and 1995), this new edition is the standard reference book for all questions Catholic. Within its 15 volumes are excellent articles on theology, church history, and canon law; and thoughtful discussions on other religions, other forms of Christianity, and such topics as "Anarchism," "Poverty," and "Prostitution" (seen, of course, in the light of the Catholic faith and intellectual tradition). The entries range from lengthy and somewhat scholarly pieces on historical figures like Aristotle, Napoleon I, or Paul the Apostle to short biographies of the many lesser-known saints and popes and brief, explanatory articles on theological terms like "Joy" and "Hope" as well as many obscure sects and movements. The writing is always clear and, most of the time, quite engaging; black-and-white reproductions are scattered throughout. Numerous articles have been added; some have been eliminated, such as "Pluralism, Political" and, sadly, "Poetry." In addition, some of the supplement entries have not made it into this edition, including one on "Pedophilia." (Recent scandals are mentioned tangentially in their relation to certain dioceses and particular bishops.) However, despite any quibbling about such quotidian mysteries (and quibbling it is-since the set still gazes unblinkingly at the Church's many darker hours, including the Inquisition and the persecution of the Huguenots), this is a great encyclopedia.
Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Published jointly by the Catholic University of America and the Gale Group, this 15-volume reference is a monumental success, destined to be the single comprehensive reference resource on Catholicism. The encyclopedia was first published in 1967 and updated with several supplemental volumes, but the current publishers have created a thoroughly new work by deleting, adding, expanding, and clarifying nearly 12,000 individual articles. Arranged alphabetically, the entries offer up-to-date commentary on the multifaceted religious body of one billion adherents, from its foundations in Judaism to the papacy of John Paul II. A retired professor of religion at Catholic University, Reverend Marthaler accepted the Herculean task of executive editor, working with 200 other distinguished faculty, experts, and religious practitioners worldwide. Their contributions in such fields as ethics, anthropology, spirituality, Scripture, civil law, and the social sciences bring balance and a healthy dose of passion to the text. Readers will find both statistical and cultural information about the Catholic Church in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Zimbabwe, as well as an entry for almost every Catholic diocese and religious organization in the United States. Exhaustive treatment is given to biblical studies, Christology, liturgical practice, and Byzantine Christianity, and ethical and moral issues of euthanasia, abortion, homosexuality, and the human genome are discussed. Also, since Catholicism doesn't exist in isolation, consideration is given to the world's leading religions of Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam, and ecumenical relations with Orthodoxy and Protestant traditions are treated with respect and sensitivity. The individual bibliographies have been expanded and updated for almost every article, and appropriately selected photographs, maps, and tables are included as well. With extensive cross references, a readable two-column layout, and a sturdy binding that will last another 40 years, the encyclopedia is recommended for all libraries. (Volume 15, the index, was not available at the time of this review.)-John-Leonard Berg, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Platteville
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

New Catholic Encyclopedia (NCE) was first published in 1967 as an update to the Catholic Encyclopedia, which first appeared in 1907. Four supplements to NCE have been published over the intervening years, the latest in 1995. Not simply an encyclopedia of Catholicism, although it certainly addresses Catholic doctrine and the history of the church, NCE "includes information about persons, institutions, cultural phenomena, religions, philosophies, and social movements that have affected the Catholic Church from within and without."

Entries are alphabetically arranged, signed by the scholar(s) who wrote or revised them, and augmented with excellent supplemental bibliographies, which have been updated for this second edition. Each volume begins with a color plate, and there are black-and-white illustrations and see references throughout. The index volume plays a critical role because users likely will not know that cloning, for example, is discussed in the entry Human genome.

Use of the 1967 edition in concert with the supplemental volumes was unwieldy, so integration was certainly in order. This second edition "updates and incorporates the many articles from the 1967 edition and its supplements . . and adds hundreds of new entries." But 18 volumes are now 14, so clearly some editing has taken place. Entries have been shortened. The discussion of the hymn Stabat Mater has been cut in half, reflecting changes in its liturgical use today. Some entries are gone entirely, such as the excellent article on Black theology in one of the supplements. Brief mention is made of the movement and its leading exponent, James Cone, in the second edition's entry African American Catholics in the United States (history of). New to this edition is an entry for Womanist theology, a type of theological reflection grounded in the experience of African American women. Some entries have been expanded to include more current information. The article on Afghanistan, the Catholic Church in now mentions the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and U.S. military action there over the past year or so. Others aren't as complete. The entry for Stein, Edith (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), St. fails to mention the controversy surrounding the 1998 canonization of the Jewish-born Carmelite nun who died in Auschwitz and the resulting strain on Catholic-Jewish relations. Finally, some entries have been practically rewritten. Homosexuality is no longer equated with narcissism or thought of as a disorder. Homosexuals are no longer called inverts or deviates.

The second edition of New Catholic Encyclopedia is less a revision of an earlier version than a new work entirely. Multivolume encyclopedias serve as a snapshot in time of current thinking on a variety of issues. By including, excluding, abbreviating, or enhancing entries, the editors are expressing what they believe to be of importance vis-a-vis the Catholic Church at the start of a new millennium. In addition to matters Christian in general and Roman Catholic in particular, this second edition offers Catholic thought on more universal subjects such as democracy, justice, and the self. For this reason alone, academic, public, and many high-school libraries should acquire it. RBB
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