American Catholics: Gender, Generation, and Commitment

Since entering the new millennium American Catholicism has been in a state of accelerating free-fall. A large majority of Catholics have arrived at negative judgments about the ethical and pastoral teachings of their church's leadership on a wide range of important issues. Most Catholics believe these teachings are not merely wrong, but morally wrong. And most Catholics are finding it increasingly difficult to "pass on" their cherished Catholic heritage to their children as they come to adulthood. Will they watch their large, resourceful, generous, and tolerant faith community, which is of service in so many ways to American society and the world-wide Catholic church, collapse because of a small, very conservative, well intentioned, authoritarian minority (that happens to include most bishops and all but a few cardinals)? Those who care about the answer to this question should read this book about young adult Catholics by a team of distinguished scholars & researchers---then see, judge, & act.