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Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans Talk About Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning | 
 enlarge | Author: Kerry Kennedy
Publisher: Crown
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $16.47
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Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 7601
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0307346846
Dewey Decimal Number: 282.092273
EAN: 9780307346841
ASIN: 0307346846
Publication Date: September 9, 2008
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Product Description
For Kerry Kennedy, who grew up in a devoutly Catholic household coping with great loss, her family’s faith was a constant source of strength and solace. As an adult, she came to question some of the attitudes and teachings of the Catholic Church while remaining an impassioned believer in its role as a defender of the poor and oppressed.
“Generations ago,” says Kennedy, “the search for spirituality came predefined and prepackaged. [The Church] not only gave us all the answers, it even gave us the questions to ask.” Now many of the old certainties are being reexamined. In an attempt to convey this sea change, Kennedy asked thirty-seven American Catholics to speak candidly about their own faith—whether lost, recovered, or deepened—and about their feelings regarding the way the Church hierarchy is moving forward.
The voices included here range from respectful to reproachful and from appreciative to angry. Speaking their minds are businesspeople, actors and entertainers, educators, journalists, politicians, union leaders, nuns, priests—even a cardinal. Some love the Church; some feel intensely that the Church wronged them. All have an illuminating insight or perspective.
Kerry Kennedy herself speaks of the joy of growing up as one of Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s eleven children, of the tragedies that eventually befell her family, and of how religion was deeply woven through good times and bad. Journalist Andrew Sullivan talks about reconciling his devout Catholicism with the Church’s condemnation of his identity as a gay man. TV newswoman Cokie Roberts recalls the nuns who taught her and “took girls seriously when nobody else did.” Comedian Bill Maher declares, “I hate religion. It’s the worst thing in the world”—and goes on to defend his bold assertion. Writer Anna Quindlen depicts a common parental challenge: passing along traditions and values to a younger generation sometimes deaf to spiritual messages.
Through these and many other voices that speak not only to Catholics but to all of us, Being Catholic Now redefines an ancient institution in the most contemporary of terms.
From Being Catholic Now
“When my mom asked if I wanted to be a nun, I said I’d rather be a priest. . . . The nuns were always wonderful, but the power was with the priest.” —Nancy Pelosi
“There are aspects of studying the saints, with the candles, incense, and Latin Masses and some of the pageantry of the Church that, as an American historian, make me feel part of a larger wave of history. That it’s not a newfangled religion, which some people get great solace from. I feel that I’m connected to places.”
—Douglas Brinkley
“Faith isn’t like picking courses off a menu. It’s a journey, and it’s a path. If your path and journey have been within one structure your entire life, then simply leaving isn’t an option.” —Andrew Sullivan
“Why stay Catholic? Because the hierarchy is not the Church. . . .We [the people of God] are the Church. They can’t take that away from us.” —Cokie Roberts
“I was told very early on by the nuns that I had an ‘overabundance of original sin.’ I was a quiet kid, but I was curious. I asked the wrong questions.” —Susan Sarandon
“I don’t believe you can be authentically Catholic without being committed to the social doctrine of the Church. When I was in grammar school, we had these little boxes to help the poor. That was good, but that is half of it. The other half is to find out why there are so many poor people and how we can do something to help them.” —Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick
“I am reconciled to the oblivion that is coming. I see no proof of anything else, if it is a matter of faith. I admire people who have faith in God. It must be a great comfort to them, but I had to get out from under the fear and the guilt.” —Frank McCourt
“I went to church and the door was locked. I was knocking and ringing the bell. I waited and waited and nobody came. [The priest thought] there was an emergency, because of all the banging and ringing. He looked down at me and said, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘I’m sorry to bother you, Father, but I’ve been away from the Church many, many years and I’d like to come back. I’d like to go to confession.’ He looked at me and something behind his eyes said, ‘You came to the right place.’ He knew that it was an important moment for me; he got it instantly.” —Martin Sheen
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Msssssssssssssss Kennedy December 22, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Mssssssss Kennedy owes The Roman Catholic Church an apology. No, I'm not going to toss her softballs because she's a Kennedy. Admittedly, she has suffered more (far more) than most, but trying to build a more politically correct Church is a poor outlet for her need to be needed. Edward Kennedy has been doing the same thing politically for decades now.
here we go again.... December 21, 2008
10 out of 16 found this review helpful
This book was disappointing. I find as a practicing catholic (meaning i do accept the teachings of the church totally and that they were indeed handed down to the apostles from Jesus Christ) that there isnt much at all Catholic in this book at all. what you will find is alot of angry people mad because the church refuses to bend to mere human wisdom. What you will find is the liberal progressive mindset sprinkled on most every page. They seem to totally forget men didnt make the rules, God did. they actually think they know better than God. If you dont believe in the dogmas of the catholic church, its doctrine and mandates, your not Catholic, so over half the people in this book are not Catholic. saying your catholic and condoning gay marriage or abortion is an oxymoron.
 Wonderful book; read it instaed of making up a review. December 18, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Just a refreshing read for "all," Catholics and those curious about an incredible religion that gets stronger everyday.
Catholics are of a very wide spectrum. Some care little about all the rules and stuff, and just like being Catholic.
Probably the most famous Catholic is Pope John Paul II. Some other notable Catholics: Bruce Springsteen, Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Mel Gibson, John Wayne, Robert Novak, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Jane Kaczmarek, Pat Buchanan, Mika Brzezinski, Chris Mathews etc....
not Catholic now; or--"Catholic" now December 17, 2008
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
I am not Catholic now but I was raised Catholic and don't regret it--in fact I did love it...the sense of history, the feeling of personal connection with great art and music (who can make you understand the great artists better than Sister Wendy -- not exactly the most highbrow critic, yet what she says is so right as far as it goes) that comes from understanding the spiritual impetus that breathed life into these works.
Now a lot of these artists, not to mention countless politicos, soldiers, tyrants, savants, etc., were not really good Catholics, but they lived in a culture where the Church formed the warp and woof of daily life. We no longer live in such a society. If one defines oneself as Catholic that means a conscious, deliberate effort at living by a set of beliefs and standards not today current. It is what you DO, not what you ARE. This is the modern reality. Of course you can be a "good" person and be of any religion--everyone knows that now.
These people are not Catholic now and some maybe never were. If you want to build your own church, it's called "Protestantism" and it's perfectly allowed. Indeed, this country was built on the Protestant ethic. Just don't be a silly hypocrite by claiming you're Catholic when you disbelieve in everything that defines that religion.
Just admit you are inventing your own religion and tayloring it to your needs and desires rather than striving to live up to something that demands some effort and self-discipline. Those qualities are anathema nowadays, except perhaps in career building and gym work-outs.
A breath of fresh air. November 21, 2008
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
As a Catholic, I've grown tired of relentless monotone stereotyping of Catholics. Being Catholic Now has been needed for a long time. Kennedy brings a more honest look at the rich spectrum of Catholic experience. The book affirmed that my experience growing up Catholic, thoughtful, curious, open, and responsible (not guilty) was not an anomaly as so many would suggest. In fact, my experience seems normal. What a joy!
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