Description:
The Roman Catholics have a long and storied history in the United States. From colonial times to the present, this group has seen its share of ups and downs, and has recently come under heated and extensive scrutiny. There is, however, a richer and more interesting history to this important denomination, and Carey details it here. Beginning with an overview of the transplanting of this faith into the New World, the author then details the extensive involvement this community has had in civil and political affairs, social and cultural milieus, and family and everyday life. Focusing on the people and events that have shaped Roman Catholicism in the United States, this broad history introduces readers to a vital American community.
Beginning with a narrative history of Catholics and Catholicism in America, Carey brings the discussion through to current times, addressing the recent problems in the Church, women's roles, and responses to terrorism and war. He then goes on to include brief biographical sketches of important figures in the Church, and offers a chronology of key events. The result is one of the most comprehensive histories of Catholics in America available.Review Quotes: "Carey writes with clarity and grace, deftly guiding readers through the intricacies of American Catholic history. Especially impressive is the way the author balances hierarchical and clerical perspectives with those of the laity and external observers of the Catholic scene. Carey integrates an amazing amount of detail into this concise, carefully structured history, making the controversies and historical protagonists come alive, whether the focus is on the Colonial era, Americanism in the 1890s, Cold War Catholicism, or the escalation of the crisis over sexual abuse by clergy at the turn of the 21st century. Highly recommended. Undergraduates; professionals and practitioners; and general readers."-Choice