Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and PowerIt has been well documented that American Catholics tend to be Catholics on their own terms, or choose to remain Catholic while selectively embracing official Church doctrine. But why do Catholics who disagree with official Church teachings on major issues such as homosexuality, women's ordination, or abortion, and are thus institutionally marginalized, choose to remain Catholic? Why do they stay, when the cost of staying and being stigmatized would seem to be greater than the benefits they might gain from switching to religious groups whose doctrines would validate their beliefs on these issues? Michele Dillon, drawing upon in-depth interviews with Catholics who are openly gay or lesbian, advocates of women's ordination, and pro-choice, investigates why and how pro-change Catholics continue to remain actively involved with the Church, despite their rejection of the Vatican's teaching on sexuality and gender. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abortion affirmed American Catholics argued believe Catholic Church Catholic community Catholic doctrine Catholic identity Catholic League Catholic theologians Catholic tradition Catholicism CFFC respondents CFFC's chapter Christ church hierarchy church hierarchy's church hierarchy's authority co-presiders commitment conscience conservative Catholics context critique CTSA cultural dialogue differences Dignity participants Dignity respondents Dignity's Dignity/Boston discussion diversity emancipatory emphasized engage equality ethics Eucharist faith Foucault gay and lesbian gay or lesbian gender groups Habermas highlighted historical homosexuality Humanae Vitae ibid inclusive institutional practices institutionally interpretive authority issues John Paul lesbian Catholics liturgy magisterium Mass Mass liturgy meanings moral nonetheless official church teaching organizational papal papal infallibility percent pluralism political Pope priesthood pro-change Catholics pro-change respondents pro-choice questionnaire questions reason religion religious role sacramental sexuality social stance study's symbols theologians theological tion U.S. bishops understanding University validity Vatican II Veritatis Splendor WOC respondents WOC's women priests women's ordination Women's Ordination Conference