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Rating: 
Summary: rigor and vitality
Review: "The rigor and vitality of the best of the Catholic intellectual tradition had always attracted me," Joanna Manning writes in the opening chapter. She brings the same rigor to the problem of the self-contradiction at the heart of the contemporary Church, where human rights and dignity are maintained rhetorically, while women are accorded a separate-but-equal status which, as the author shows time and again, implies that women enjoy less than human rights while being subjected to de-humanizing conditions and restrictions, in marriage as well as in vocation. In the same chapter she recounts the anguish of an African woman in the Cameroon explaining " 'You know how Africans love children, and we would never reject any of them. But we don't want to have so many. We want a better life for our children, but we can't even clothe and educate them. Yet we are desperate, because the Church tells us that we can only use the rhythm method. It doesn't work, but we don't know how to argue with the priests.'...I had spoken and written about the injustice, the lack of credibility, and the health risks which are the result of the Vatican's intransigent opposition to contraception. Never before had I heard such a direct statement of the pain of poor families, especially women, when faced with the autocracy of the Church. I knew then that my decision to defend women's rights wihtin the Church, whatever the cost, ahd been the right one...As a white Canadian woman, I do not have to face the struggle for survival, which is a daily reality for most women in two-thirds of the world. I have also enjoyed unique opportunities in my life to become theologically educated and literate in the language of the Church. I can read Latin, and I am in a position to 'argue with the priests.' But with this privilege comes the responsibility to struggle against injustice." Some of the concrete examples of the tragedies and absurdities include the beatification of Elisabetta Canori Mora, who jeopardized her own life and her children's in what moral theology would recognize as an overscrupulous interpretation of the sacrament of marriage; a young Canadian student, also a lector, inspired by a social justice encyclical, whose parish pastor screamed that she was possessed for 'criticizing the Church' by suggesting that bequest money be used to start a homeless shelter; the fact that the Pontifical Biblical Commission, having studied the question of ordaining women at Paul VI's instruction, found that the New Testament could not of itself support the exclusion, and that the Commission supported women's ordination by a 12 to 5 vote. Her love for the Church is evident, as is her strong disapproval of the abuse of reason to claim divine origin for irrational stereotypes imposed by clerical fiat under the guise of infallible authority. Grounding all is her argument that "to accommodate a theological position based on genitalia rather than one based on the Genesis account of male and female both made in the image of God, Pope John Paul II and those who aagree with him have been forced to distort othe doctrines of the Catholic Church. These include what theologians call christology, or teachings on the nature of Jesus; soteriology, which describes the work and redemptive mission of Jesus; the resurrection of Jesus; and ecclesiology, or the nature of the Church and in particular, the sacrament of baptism." Perhaps her remaining faithful to the Church despite rampant clerical abuse will be seen as heroic as Elisabetta Canori Mora's.
Rating: 
Summary: Let the Truth Be Known
Review: As a college professor of theology I am, obviously, very interested in Joanna Manning's presentation. Humanity tends to ignore the sociological and political aspects of religion. There is no better example of this than the Roman Catholic Church. I have found that the majority of 'professed' Catholics quit their religious education after high school and either consciously or unconsciously have failed to continue a personal study and exploration of their faith. A faith that should become their own rather than a religion that was handed to them, often times without choice. It is because of such individual's blind acceptance of the Church's controlled and filtered rhetoric that the full picture that Manning provides needs to be available to Catholics. Her information is to the point and not always nice to hear. I found myself gettting angrier and angrier as I read each page. This institution (as most religious institutions) struggles to practice what it preaches. And that is understandable if we remember that it is a human institution. But the people, still manipulated out of fear of damnation, are told and required to accept that such actions are Divine. It is this sad portrayal that Manning fully uncovers. While Manning makes a good presentation of the discrimination so active in this Church, I thought she naively believes that this patriarchal institution could be righted in her lifetime. It is important that her message be shared and shouted with an on-going effort to expose such blatant discrimination. Manning's hope and belief in a re-vitalized and truly Christian Church will totally depend on John Paul II successor and the removal or retention of the current Magisterium. Food for thought: What would happen if excerpts from this book could be read to the people from the pulpit? How many people would be enlightened? How many people would be able to continue to follow this institution that claims to speak for the Divine, who is Love, in such a biased and controlling manner? I, like Manning, believe with exposure these followers might rethink this current authority's decrees.
Rating: 
Summary: Amuck
Review: The author criticizes just about everything the Catholic Church teaches. There's nothing new here. It's the same agenda as NCR, Call to Action, and a thousand dissident outfits have pushed since 1968. It's just a bit more passionate and a bit less grammatical. But if poor Ms. Manning doesn't believe what the Catholic Church does, why doesn't she just leave? It's a free country. Who's forcing her to stay? One thing should be clear. While the Church may change its discipline, it can and never will change its basic teachings on faith and morals. The teaching of John Paul II is an accurate presentation of what every authentic Catholic believes. and nothing is more liberating for women and for men.
Rating:
Summary: Leave
Review: The author is clearly not a Catholic. Her hatred for the teaching of the Catholic Church is vitriolic. Why isn't she honest about her loss of faith, leave the Church, and start her own pro-choicreligion?
Rating:
Summary: Ignorance & Prejudice
Review: This anti-Catholic screed is based on raw ignorance. The Catholic Church permits many other kinds of natural family planning than the rhythm method. The Pontifical Biblical commission never voted in favor of women's ordination. The anecdotal "incidents" cited by Manning are suspect. The alleged speakers (no documentation provided) all speak in Manning's distinctive voice. Please be forewarned: Joanna Manning is an ex-Catholic who is a member of Catholics for a Free Choice and other anti-Catholic orgranizations.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: This book definatly provides insight into controversial theories. A very well written argument! She's an even better teacher! Good Job Ms. Manning
Rating:
Summary: Just who is Catholic here?
Review: This work is a raw expression of hate: toward the Church, toward the gospel, toward John Paul II, toward natural law. The author uncritically takes the entire agenda of NOW (right down to abortion) and then rants that the Catholic Church is, well, Catholic.
Rating:
Summary: Rage Theology
Review: Well, this is certainly an angry book. Ms. Manning is convinced that Pope John Paul II is a heretic. No proof here, of course. Only rage at the fact that this pope courageously defends the right to life and the rights of the family. The little anecodtes are more than doubtful. Anti-Catholic bile from an embittered ex-nun.
Rating:
Summary: Rage Theology
Review: Well, this is certainly an angry book. Ms. Manning is convinced that Pope John Paul II is a heretic. No proof here, of course. Only rage at the fact that this pope courageously defends the right to life and the rights of the family. The little anecodtes are more than doubtful. Anti-Catholic bile from an embittered ex-nun.
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