Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, and the Splendor of Truth by Richard John Neuhaus

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Time magazine called Catholic theologian Richard John Neuhaus "one of the twenty-five most influential evangelical thinkers." In Catholic Matters, the former Lutheran minister continues his spiritual journey and his exploration of interfaith dialogue. An important statement by a major Catholic intellectual.

From the Publisher

In Catholic Matters, Father Neuhaus addresses the many controversies that have marked recent decades of American Catholicism. Looking beyond these troubles to “the splendor of truth” that constitutes the Church, he proposes a forward-thinking way of being Catholic in America. Drawing on his personal encounters with the late John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, Neuhaus describes their hope for a springtime of world evangelization, Christian unity, and Catholic renewal. Catholic Matters reveals a vibrant Church, strengthened and unified by hardship and on the cusp of a great revival in spiritual vitality and an even greater contribution to our common life.

The New York Times - Patrick Allitt

Neuhaus defends his vision of Christianity with wit and sure-handed confidence. I doubt whether many Catholics of the type he criticizes will be convinced, but he makes an erudite case for the old teachings, while humanizing them in the context of his own biography.

Publishers Weekly

Readers acquainted with Neuhaus's previous books and his work with the magazine First Things will be most interested in this latest tome on the state of the Catholic Church. A former Lutheran pastor who became Catholic in 1990 and a priest in 1991, Neuhaus has emerged as a leading voice among those considered to be faithful to the Church's Magisterium, or teaching authority. Here, Neuhaus challenges the oft-heard statement, "Yes, I am a Catholic, but I think for myself," explaining how fidelity to the church begins with thinking for oneself so one can think with the church. He expands on this by exploring the role of conscience, drawing a distinction between doing what one wants and discerning and acting upon the truth. Neuhaus also discusses the church's authority, emphasizing that it is never invoked to require people to believe what is false. Other topics include the eerily prophetic Humanae Vitae, the 1968 papal encyclical on artificial contraception; the loss of Catholic identity when Friday abstinence from meat faded from practice; and how news reporting on the Second Vatican Council shaped its meaning for many American Catholics. Neuhaus devotees and others interested in the issues he raises will find here a thoughtful exposition of Catholicism's present moment. (Mar.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

This finely written book offers a refreshing analysis of an emerging Catholic identity in the United States. It does not skirt the contemporary scandals that embroil bishops and local congregations but adroitly transforms these thorny issues with liberating words of truth. With the mind of a theologian and the heart of a pastor, Neuhaus (president, Inst. on Religion and Public Life; Freedom for Ministry) authors a clear commentary on American Catholic self-understanding in the early 21st century. Conflicting interpretations of the meaning of the Vatican Council, confusion over liturgical practices, aging and diminishing clergy, and sexual abuse scandals provide the reference base for authentic conversion and renewal. Frequently, the secular press portrays the Catholic Church as defeated both within and without. This book, however, is realistic, courageous, and hopeful as it describes a new generation of faithful Catholics reawakened by clerics like Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Additionally, Neuhaus offers parts of own "Rome Diary" surrounding the awesome days of April 2005 when the new pope was inaugurated. His book is a political study of and theological reflection on the transformative spirit emerging in American Catholicism. Recommended for larger public libraries.-John-Leonard Berg, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Platteville Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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