Reconstructing Catholicism

I was lucky enough to hear Ludwig speak at the LA Religious Education Conference in 1999. Ludwig has a positive, heartfelt vision of Catholic faith. If you are developing your own faith and that of your children, this is a good book to read and reflect on. Ludwig runs through the basic theologic concepts of the Church -- what is Grace and Faith, etc. He also tries to bring people out of a legalistic view of the Church to a view of its Sacramentality. This is a view that religious educators are trying to teach -- at least the 20,000 that are showing up at the Los Angeles Conference. I'm finding more books and resources that are trying to teach a more hopeful, spiritual Catholicism -- the religion that should be passed on rather than the legalistic, pessimistic faith that the mass of pre-Vatican Catholics were instilled with.If you are an former Catholic or are discourgaged with the institutional church, you should read this book because it will remind you of why the Catholic Faith is the Path. It does matter that you are Cathoic and that you continue to practice, even if it isn't as "perfect" as demanded by some parts.*By the way, I am not an RCIA teacher. I'm helping out my Church, but I'm pretty much the run-of-the-mill layperson with no training other than Catholic elementary and high school.