Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God

I come from a Catholic home. I knew my faith well, but I did not know how to defend my believes when I got to college. I left the church and later became protestant for many years. If I had read this book in my early twenties, I would have stayed with the Catholic Faith all along. This book is a great tool for Catholics who want to know how to defend their faith when they feel attacked by protestant brothers and sisters in the faith.

The Scriptures; the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; the real presence in the Eucharist; Mary; Purgatory; justification; the nature of baptism; priests. These are all subjects of many a civilized discussion (or heated dispute!) with our protestant brothers and sisters.The assembled essays in this book explain these and other issues in very clear and readable language. They serve well in explaining the Biblical and historical basis behind these issues.For the Catholic who wants to understand the faith better, whether it be for personal growth or to help defend the teachings against those who would criticize them, this book is for you.For the protestant who is willing to let the Catholic Church explain the Catholic Church, this book is for you too.A pretty easy read. Well worth your time!

I have recently made the decision to join the Catholic Church. I will be confirmed at Easter Vigil in 2000 and much of the reason is Scott Hahn. I highly recommend anything written or edited by him, especially this particular gem. The beauty of this one is that it has 11 different authors who each tackle a different important element of the church in a comprehensive way all while remaining in unison to the common theme: THE FAMILY OF GOD. It answers all of the important and legitimate questions of the Protestents. I don't know how anyone can read this book and not want to be a Catholic. As Dr. Hahn says in his other book ROME SWEET HOME, "come home, supper is waiting at the table." Well I'm on my way home, come with me if you're not already there.

"Catholic for a Reason" is probably the best book available to share with Protestant Christians. Too many times, Protestants object to Catholic doctrines because they do not 'understand' Catholic doctrines. This book gives the Protestant Christian a good overview of the historical and biblical basis for Catholicism. Read with an open heart and mind, this book should help Protestants come home to the Catholic Church. Reviewed by Gospel Truth Ministries

As Scott Hahn says in the introduction, Catholic for a Reason "is written to change the way you think--about everything." Well, the authors succeed. Drawing on Scripture and Tradition, each of these twelve capable authors makes a case for an aspect of the Catholic Faith in the context of the book's overarching theme, the Catholic Church as the Family of God. Perhaps the best quality of the book is that it tells a story, rather than answering common objections to the Catholic Faith, as most apologetics works do. Well-written, compelling, and above all charitable, Catholic for a Reason is an excellent presentation of the Catholic Faith in an attractive form. See for yourself why Peter Kreeft says, "Its central idea of 'the family of God' turns out to be central to every aspect of the Catholic faith, and no idea is more fundamental to our current crisis and 'culture war' than this one."