Crisis and Challenge in the Roman Catholic Church: Perspectives on Decline and Reformation

by Debra Meyers (Editor), Mary Sue Barnett (Editor), Debra Meyers (Contribution by), Mary E. Hunt Mary E. Hunt (Contribution by), Paul Tenkotte (Contribution by)

Overview

This volume explores the historical, theological, sociological, and ethical dimensions of the current issues threatening the two thousand-year-old Roman Catholic Church. The interdisciplinary analysis contained within the volume exposes the destructive convictions and actions of the Roman Catholic clergy that has produced the current institutional crisis while suggesting options for moving forward. Documenting the cases that constitute the many crises currently surrounding Catholicism, the volume aims to provide clarity and conscience. At the same time, with a constructive vision of an ethics and religious practice rooted in integrity and transparency, the authors offer a path towards holistic and holy reformation by and for Catholics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781793604927
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	07/07/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	268
File size:	467 KB

About the Author

Debra Meyers is professor at Northern Kentucky University, teaching a variety of courses in gender studies, history, and religious studies.

Mary Sue Barnett is Catholic woman priest, ordained by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Debra Meyers

Chapter One

After the Smoke Clears: Insights and Challenges from Feminist Catholicism

Mary E. Hunt

Chapter Two

Cleaning the Church Attic: Discarding “Uniformity and Division” for “Unity in Diversity”

Paul Tenkotte

Chapter Three

Crises and Opportunities Since Vatican II: Conscience, Social Action, and Transparency

Pierre Hegy

Chapter Four

Grave Injustice & Great Deception: The Ban on Women Priests Never Rested on Theology

Miriam Duignan

Chapter Five

The Deconstruction of Clerical Hegemony: Ending the Moral Dissonance and Abuse of Power

Sylvia Hübel

Chapter Six

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: The Eye of the Storm

Siobhan Fleming

Chapter Seven

#NunsToo: Media Coverage of Sexual Violence against Nuns and Sisters After #MeToo

Tara M. Tuttle

Chapter Eight

The Perfect Victim: Childhood Sexual Trauma and Gendered Catholic Identity

Jo Scott-Coe

Chapter Nine

Awareness of the Divine Feminine, Holy Sophia: Leaving Behind Roman Catholic Misogyny

Mary Sue Barnett

Chapter Ten

‘I Am Heartily Sorry’: The Roman Catholic Church and Domestic Abuse

Debra Meyers

About the Contributors

Editorial Reviews

This 257-page book provides an impressive analysis of the Roman Catholic Church today. It is substantial, wide-ranging, rich in compelling insights. Twelve authors, each competent in her/his own right, offer facts and conclusions.. . .I recommend this book to every person who values Jesus’ dream of establishing a ‘kingdom of love’ and a community of faith in which all are brothers and sisters inspired by his vision.

Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research

This superb collection of essays provides Catholics with a series of high-powered lenses for examining the monolith of clerical corruption that has thwarted Gospel justice in the 21st century. Moving us deeper into the root causes behind today’s painful headlines, individual contributors not only demonstrate the power of feminist analyses in exposing the long arc of sacralized misogyny and sexism, they unflinchingly expose prelates who cover up crimes and illuminate the power of the #MeToo movement to shift the narrative and expose the lackadaisical reporting by media outlets on the abuse of women religious in recent years. Overall, these contributors remind us that muscular correctives are available and being engaged against a rotting clericalist system. They illuminate critical remedies for holding Catholic clerics accountable, establishing full equality for women, and transforming hierarchical concepts of authority, power, and gender in order to carry out the work of the Gospel for today’s world.

Deborah Rose-Milavec