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Practicing Catholic Audiobook
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(3.25) - 127 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
James Carroll delivers a tour-de-force look at what it means to be a Catholic today--set against the rich history of the Catholic Church in America. Brilliantly wresting meaning from the historical, social and religious strands of his story, Carroll illuminates the Church's transformation from reactionary monolith to an institution in which the deepest aspects of faith are being called into question. Carroll reveals his own story--as a Catholic boy in the 1940s and '50s, as a seminarian and priest in the crucible of the 1960s and early '70s, and as a committed but questioning Catholic today--with an emotional impact reminiscent of his An American Requiem. Practicing Catholic is for the millions of practicing, questioning, or lapsed Catholics and others who are searching for a way to reconcile the acts of Church leaders with the faith and the Church they still want to claim as their own.
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"I learned a great deal from this book about church history. As a woman in the Catholic Church I have frustrated for decades over the rigidity of Rome and the lack of backbone in the current men who serve in the priesthood. I recommend this book to all Catholics who feel my frustration. "
— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)
Practicing Catholic Listener Reviews
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" If I was a Catholic, this book would trouble me a lot. Even as a Protestant, I am not sure what to make of a brilliant and passionate ex=priest who denounces pope-centered Catholicism better than any Protestant could do, claiming to be a true American Catholic yet denying the deity of Christ. "
— Paul, 12/1/2013 -
" it took a while--lots of ideas, history and vocabulary to consider--but it was worth it. my copy is dog-ear'd and I'll read it again. Would be good for a discussion group for theology students. "
— JeanneBee, 11/15/2013 -
" Great read for anyone interested in recent Catholic history, ecumenism, and current theological topics. Of course Carroll is a bona fide Vatican II catholic and rather liberal which makes him appealing to me, but might be off putting to others with a more conservative viewpoint. "
— Peter, 11/14/2013 -
" This book is having a strange effect on me. It almost makes me want to go to Church. I've come to terms with the fact that I have a really love/hate affair with the Catholic Church. "
— Jackie, 10/22/2013 -
" Carroll is an ex-priest who writes for those of us who hang onto the possibility that the Church might someday begin to represent Jesus. It is a hope far off in the distance--but it is hope. I learned a lot about Roman Catholicism from this book and will read more of Carroll's work. "
— Cynthia, 10/6/2013 -
" Excellent excergis about the state of the Church. Because of his former status he can explain the inner wrokings of the instiutional Church and he still stays! "
— Mary, 9/15/2013 -
" a very good "recent" history of the church and those that love it, while not loving the "CHURCH" "
— Chuck, 7/24/2013 -
" Evolution of the American Catholic Church alongside that of the author. "
— Paula, 5/3/2013 -
" So many things I never tied together. Very interesting read. I'll be thinking about this one for a while. "
— Beth, 5/1/2013 -
" Wow - a book that does address alot of my concerns. We need a present day Cardinal Cushing!! to help change things from the inside out. "
— Trish, 9/3/2012 -
" ummmm!!! not sure - beneath all the words is a traditionalist. "
— Timothy, 5/25/2012 -
" I learned a great deal from this book about church history. As a woman in the Catholic Church I have frustrated for decades over the rigidity of Rome and the lack of backbone in the current men who serve in the priesthood. I recommend this book to all Catholics who feel my frustration. "
— Mary, 11/4/2011 -
" The book is exceptionally fine. I copied out his line: I loved my writing desk more than my chapel. "
— Carol, 10/24/2011 -
" A must read for those of us who struggle to remain. Insightful and moving. His truth telling is staggering. "
— Margaretflynn, 8/25/2011 -
" Sort of skimmed it because it was a fairly repetitive and emotive rehash of stuff I already knew. I don't want to make it sound too bad though, I think it has a lot of good insights on the recent history of the Roman Catholic Church sprinkled throughout. "
— Matt, 8/9/2011 -
" I think this is an important book for any Catholic to read. I found it to be very affirming and renewed my commitment to the faith, and to the Church. "
— Hedlun, 1/26/2011 -
" it took a while--lots of ideas, history and vocabulary to consider--but it was worth it. my copy is dog-ear'd and I'll read it again. Would be good for a discussion group for theology students. "
— JeanneBee, 1/3/2011 -
" Wow - a book that does address alot of my concerns. We need a present day Cardinal Cushing!! to help change things from the inside out. "
— Trish, 12/14/2010 -
" Evolution of the American Catholic Church alongside that of the author. "
— Paula, 11/27/2010 -
" a very good "recent" history of the church and those that love it, while not loving the "CHURCH" "
— Chuck, 11/8/2010 -
" Sort of skimmed it because it was a fairly repetitive and emotive rehash of stuff I already knew. I don't want to make it sound too bad though, I think it has a lot of good insights on the recent history of the Roman Catholic Church sprinkled throughout. "
— Mack, 6/27/2010 -
" If I was a Catholic, this book would trouble me a lot. Even as a Protestant, I am not sure what to make of a brilliant and passionate ex=priest who denounces pope-centered Catholicism better than any Protestant could do, claiming to be a true American Catholic yet denying the deity of Christ. "
— Paul, 4/16/2010 -
" I think this is an important book for any Catholic to read. I found it to be very affirming and renewed my commitment to the faith, and to the Church. "
— Hedlun, 11/23/2009 -
" A must read for those of us who struggle to remain. Insightful and moving. His truth telling is staggering. "
— Margaretflynn, 10/28/2009 -
" The book is exceptionally fine. I copied out his line: I loved my writing desk more than my chapel. <br/> <br/> <br/> "
— Carol, 6/9/2009 -
" This book is having a strange effect on me. It almost makes me want to go to Church. I've come to terms with the fact that I have a really love/hate affair with the Catholic Church. "
— Jackie, 5/19/2009 -
" ummmm!!! not sure - beneath all the words is a traditionalist. "
— Timothy, 5/8/2009
About James Carroll
James Carroll is the author of twelve novels, most recently The Cloister, and nine works of nonfiction. For twenty-three years he published a weekly op-ed column in the Boston Globe. Other books include the National Book Award–winning An American Requiem; the New York Times bestselling Constantine’s Sword, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; House of War, winner of the PEN/Galbraith Award; and Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Carroll is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and an associate of the Mahindras Humanities Center at Harvard University. He lives in Boston with his wife, the writer Alexandra Marshall. Visit him at www.JamesCarroll.net.
About Bill Weideman
Bill Weideman has been active in theater since the first grade, and this interest led him to an undergraduate degree from Michigan State in radio and television broadcasting. He helped found the Ionia Community Theater and has performed with Central Park Players, Muskegon Civic Theater, and other regional theater groups. He has narrated and directed for Brilliance for many years. His repertoire includes everything from thrillers to romance to westerns to science fiction. He is also well-known in West Michigan as the patriarch of the Weideman Family Band.