A rich portrait of American Catholicism at a crossroads between crisis and opportunity
The most vocal leaders in the US Catholic hierarchy today embrace a culture-war Catholicism that pits them against the pastoral priorities of Pope Francis and many Catholics in the pews.
Reclaiming American Catholicism makes the argument that recalibrating the Church's engagement with politics and public life is vital for both the Church and the country. Gehring illuminates the Church that Pope Francis envisions—"bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets"—through stories of Catholic advocates working on the border, young Catholics who question Church teachings but are active in social justice campaigns, LGBTQ+ Catholics within a Church that does not accept their full humanity, and seminarians who work in the fields with migrants as part of their religious formation.
This book offers living examples of the pastoral and prophetic Catholicism driving systemic grassroots reform and renewal.
Reviews
"American Catholicism is undergoing a transformation as epochal as any in its history, and faster than anyone had imagined. John Gehring has been a sharp-eyed, first-person observer of the church scene for years and is an excellent guide to the recent past, the tumultuous present, and the uncertain future."—David Gibson, Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University
"Gehring's account of the damage inflicted by culture-war Catholicism is devastating. But his stories of Catholics accompanying those on the margins of society filled me with hope for a revitalized Catholic Church in the United States."—Cathleen Kaveny, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology, Boston College
"Anyone who wants to understand the political and cultural forces that are shaping American Catholicism today should read this new book by John Gehring, one of the most astute and incisive commentators on the contemporary church and its involvement in the larger world. Gehring deftly weaves together historical context, contemporary events, and insightful analysis drawn from years of reporting. And he offers a hopeful vision for Catholics to put their faith into action and advocate for the common good."—John Martin, SJ, author, Learning to Pray and Jesus: A Pilgrimage
About the Author
John Gehring is Catholic program director at Faith in Public Life, a policy advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, and the author of The Francis Effect: A Radical Pope's Challenge to the American Catholic Church (2015).
