Rating: 
Summary: A Sign of Hope
Review: Unlike the "Catholic Lite" reviewer, I actually read this book, which is an eloquent, deeply thoughtful, objective, and cautiously hopeful analysis of the Catholic Church in America at the beginning of the 21st Century, a Church Mr. Steinfels obviously loves and has spent much of his life in service to. If you share his passionate love of Catholicism and are looking for a hopeful way to proceed, whether you consider yourself "conservative" or "liberal" or somewhere in between, this book is a "must read."
Rating: 
Summary: Crisis and Stability
Review: While I may not agree with the author on each point about what needs to be done to reform the Church and gain a foothold in modern society, whatever that means, I see the question as highly relevant. The crisis in the Catholic Church is a needed one. At some point the church needs to say "Yes" to the laity in regards to some points, especially accountability and availability. At some point, the Church has to say "NO" to a pop-culture that slides further from the heart of the gospel each year. I would suggest that the situation is not as dire as the author proposes, but I would agree that if the Church wants big numbers, it needs to change. But does the Bride of Christ need to be focused on the numbers or on Christ? I do not mean this in an arrogant way, but only as a plea to for Catholics to ask themselves, "Do I belong here? Is this my Church?" If they answer "no" with a mind toward reforming the Church in a liberal direction, my suggestion is that they go down the street to Spongville and see if the grass is greener on the other side and if they want to sacrifice doctrine for good feelings under the sign of the rainbow. Not that such a false dichotomy is true, but I see little sign of common ground in my area. I live near a very "progressive", some would say heretical, diocese. It is not greener on the other side; unless you want to claim the title of Catholic but at heart are Episcopalian or ELCA. I sympathize with the problem, and this book is useful for everyone with their heart and faith at stake.
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