The Cambridge Companion to American Catholicism

by Margaret M. McGuinness (Editor), Thomas F. Rzeznik (Editor)

Overview

This Companion provides a comprehensive overview of American Catholicism's historical development and distinctive features. The essays - all specially commissioned for this volume - highlight the inner diversity of American Catholicism and trace the impact of American Catholics on all aspects of society, including education, social welfare, politics, and intellectual life. The volume also addresses topics of contemporary concern, such as gender and sexuality, arts and culture, social activism, and the experiences of Black, Latinx, Asian-American, and cultural Catholics. Taken together, the essays in this Companion provide context for understanding American Catholicism as it is currently experienced, and help to situate present-day developments and debates within their longer trajectory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108460088
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/17/2021
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Religion
Pages:	386
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

Margaret M. McGuinness is Professor of Religion at La Salle University, Philadelphia. She is the author of Called to Serve: A History of Nuns in America (2013), which won the 2014 Catholic Book Award in History and received the 2016 Distinguished Book Award from the Conference on the History of Women Religious. She is also the author of Neighbors and Missionaries: A History of the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine (2012).

Thomas F. Rzeznik is an Associate Professor of History at Seton Hall University, New Jersey and co-editor of the quarterly journal, American Catholic Studies. He is author of Church and Estate: Religion and Wealth in Industrial-Era Philadelphia (2013).

Table of Contents

Part I. Historical Overview: 1. American Catholicism's early foundations Maura Jane Farrelly; 2. The immigrant church, 1820-1908 Steven M. Avella; 3. The Catholic century James M. O'Toole; Part II. Catholic Life and Culture: 4. Catholic worship Katharine E. Harmon; 5. Catholic intellectual life William L. Portier; 6. Catholic education James T. Carroll; 7. Social welfare and social reform Mary Elizabeth Brown; 8. Women religious Mary Beth Fraser Connolly; 9. Catholics and politics Lawrence J. McAndrews; 10. Arts and culture Debra Campbell; 11. Anti-Catholicism in the United States Mark Massa, SJ; 12. Gender and sexuality James P. McCartin; 13. American Catholics in a global context Angelyn Dries; Part III. Many Faces of Catholicism: 14. American Catholic laywomen and feminism Paula M. Kane; 15. Black Catholics Cecilia A. Moore; 16. Latinx Catholicism Lauren Guerra and Brett C. Hoover; 17. Asian American Catholics Robert E. Carbonneau; 18. Cultural Catholicism Tom Beaudoin; Conclusion: 19. US Catholicism in the twenty-first century Mary L. Gautier.

Editorial Reviews

‘… an outstanding overview of the US's distinctive Catholic history … Recommended.’ R. A. Boisclair, Choice Connect

From the Publisher