Books: "American Church: the Remarkable Rise, Meteoric Fall and Uncertain Future of Catholicism in America"by Russell Shaw

Catholicism in America: 

In Progress or Regress? 

by FATHER C.J. MCCLOSKEY

In American Church: the Remarkable Rise, 

Meteoric Fall and Uncertain Future of 

Catholicism in America, published by Ignatius Press, 

Russell Shaw has written a timely and insightful account.

This book is the one we have been waiting for to chronicle our corner of the universal Church. It covers Church history in the U.S. from the post-Civil War period up to the present — and a little beyond.

On a side note, be sure to read Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput’s foreword first. In my opinion, he is on the short list for the best bishop writing today — clear about the crisis, yet encouraging about the future.

American Church is compact and full of strong opinions backed up by substantial fact. The author explains the American Church’s progress (or regress) from “Dawn to Decadence” (to steal a title from the recently deceased Jacque Barzun) and suggests how the Church in America can be guided by the Holy Spirit to right to give evangelizing witness in this still very young century.

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