Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice

Enumerating the main attributes of Catholic identity as "an ecclesial faith, a visible, hierarchal church, a sacramental imagination, a theology that seeks to integrate both faith and reason, and a strong communal sense," Rausch, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount U. in Los Angeles, explores ways to keep these whole and vital in a postmodern time of global influences and wide range of personal choices. To embody fundamental traditions, distinct eternal values, undeniable elements of history, and recognize though not necessarily reflect social developments and mores, meaningful Catholicism cannot be simply a pastiche or an option. Written for Catholics of all ages though for the younger generations in particular, the work imparts general guidance and counsel while also confronting contemporary circumstances such as the popularity of the movie "Da Vinci Code," abortion, and the notion of "spirituality" overshadowing the concept of religion and faith. In a tone free of either worry or authoritarianism, but palpably rooted in shared concerns and questions, Rausche offers Catholics somewhat at sea in the constantly busy, media-driven culture readily accessible ways to strengthen and as they wish express their religion.

Rausch opens by introducing a number of surveys and four recent studies on young adult Catholic attitudes toward spirituality and religion. Many young Catholics reportedly see little connection between religion and spirituality; consider being Catholic an accident of birth or personal preference; and are barely distinguishable from mainline Protestants. One conclusion Rausch draws from these data is that even young adult Catholics who have a strong attachment to their faith "need to become more familiar with the rich cultural and intellectual tradition of the Church. Catholicism is a way of life, not just another church." Succeeding chapters look at the upcoming generation of Catholic theologians; popularity of books like "The Da Vinci Code" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul"; and the role of family and Catholic educational institutions in defining a Catholic identity for young people. Catholic identity is characterized by ecclesial faith; a visible, hierarchical church; a sacramental imagination (ways in which we experience the holy); a theology that seeks to integrate both faith and reason; and a strong communal sense. To help readers better understand the concept, Rausch provides a table comparing Catholic and Protestant "imagination." Overall, this resource is filled with thought-provoking information and reflections, any of which could be the basis for discussion among Church leaders, parish staff, and members of faith-sharing groups.