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Title: Excellent Context
Review: This book provides the historical and social context for the Catholic Church in the U.S. The author presents an accurate view of the Catholic Church because he recognizes the authority of the official teaching of the Church about herself. Yet, he does not gloss over the serious problems that face the Church in America from so many who are either openly or covertly trying to undermine the traditional self-understanding of the Church. The book is a basic introduction to the Church for non-Catholics and for Catholics in the common situation of having little knowledge of their own Church's structure and history. The book is also of interest to knowledgeable and more advanced readers, especially the chapter on post-Vatican II issues. In many ways, context is everything; and this book provides the context for the evolving and fascinating situation of the Catholic Church in the U.S. (For a more detailed review, see my blog above for Sept. 20, 2006.)
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