The Catholic Church: What Everyone Needs To Know

Synopsis

Roman Catholicism Stands At A Crossroads, A Classic Best Of Time, Worst Of Times Moment. On The One Hand, The Catholic Church Remains By Far The Largest Branch Of The Worldwide Christian Family, And Is Growing At A Remarkable Clip. Yet The Church Has Also Been Rocked By A Series Of Scandals Related To The Sexual Abuse Of Minors By Clergy, And, Even More Devastating, The Cover-up By The Church Hierarchy. The Church Has Enormous Residual Strength And Exciting Future Prospects, But It Also Faces Steep Internal And External Challenges. The Author Offers An Authoritative And Accessible Guide To The Past, Present, And Future Of The Church. Introduction -- The Catholic Church 101 -- Historical Highlights And Lowlights -- The Church Outside The Church -- The Life Of The Mind -- Worship -- Angels, Demons, And Saints -- Faith And Politics -- Catholicism And Sex -- Catholicism And Money -- Crisis And Scandal -- Rome And America -- New Frontiers -- Pope Francis. John L. Allen, Jr.. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 287-293) And Index.