Expressions of the Catholic Faith: A Guide to the Teachings and Practice of Catholic Church by Kevin Orlin Johnson

From the Publisher

For many practicing Catholics, the meanings behind the prayers we repeat, the rules we follow, and the rituals we perform have been lost or forgotten since we learned about them in parochial school or catechism class. In EXPRESSIONS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH, renowned scholar and religion columnist Kevin Orlin Johnson answers the most frequently asked questions on Catholic faith, worship, culture, and customs.

Publishers Weekly

Johnson's title may lead readers to expect a volume that explains Catholicism's unique rites, symbols and beliefs to believers of other traditions. Not so. The book is, instead, an apologia for many Catholic traditions-the denial of ordinations to women, a celibate clergy, etc.-and addresses the reform issues that currently fracture the Catholic Church. Protestants, in fact, may be offended by Johnson's frequent reference to them as ``separated Christians,'' a pre-Vatican II term that implies that Catholicism bears no responsibility for Christian disunity. Johnson offers lucid-and downright chatty-explanations of a dizzying array of customs and beliefs, ably demonstrating why diocesan newspapers across the country have picked up his column, ``Sign of Faith.'' This volume will likely appeal most to those same readers. (Sept.)

Library Journal

Art historian Johnson here spews out numerous facts and even more numerous-and suspect-opinions on Catholic faith, worship, culture, and customs. Unfortunately, he either over- or underexplains his information, shifting between the interests of Catholics and curious non-Catholics and satisfying neither. Even marginally informed readers will feel compelled to question his sweeping generalizations. On style of worship, for example: If you come from Italy, Ireland, or Spain, you prefer the visual; from England, northern Germany, or Scandinavia, you prefer words and music. On priestly celibacy: "There's never been much call to allow priests of the Latin Rite to marry." Equally irritating are countless non sequiturs, sloppy editing, and an idiosyncratic bibliography in which a German text is recommended with the qualifier "Only kidding." Misleading, contradictory, inappropriately irreverent, and not recommended.-Nancy M. Laskowski, MHC Correctional Facility Lib., Jessup, Md.

BookList

The range of Johnson's content could have been extravagantly insufficient. Most theologians would not have attempted such a juxtaposition of sublime theology and simple devotionsat least in the space of approximately 300 pages. But this little Catholic encyclopedia reminds us that the average reader has questions and interests that academics may overlook. It also reminds us that Catholicism is a mixed bag of intellect and imagination, of doctrines and practices, of personalities and popes. For example, Johnson manages to fit the visions of St. Catherine Laboure, a simple French sister, into his context. Johnson is an art historian, and it is interesting to have that kind of perspective when describing Catholicism; his principal headings (faith, worship, culture, customs) keep the ark orderly.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents