Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521630443)

It 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.

Author: Michele Dillon,Dillon Michele
ISBN-10: 0521630444
ISBN-13: 9780521630443
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 08/13/1999
Pages: 300
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.21lbs
Size: 9.33h x 6.33w x 0.93d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 11/15/1999 pg. 73