Overview

Why do a third of the people raised Catholic in the United States no longer worship as Catholics? Why has the Catholic Church lost a credible teaching voice for many young people? Does the fault lie entirely with those individuals and with the secular culture? In Why the Catholic Church Must Change, Margaret Nutting Ralph first affirms that Catholics are called to seek the truth and to follow their well-formed consciences, not simply to submit mind and will to the teachings of the Magisterium. She then argues that the Catholic Church, which has been open to change in the twentieth century, must continue to be open to change in the twenty-first century: change in some of its teachings and in some of its practices. The Catholic Church has changed in the past and is being called to change in the present. Before that change can occur the Church must enter into respectful dialogue about pertinent issues, such as contraception, women’s ordination and homosexuality, and present practices. Ralph contends that Catholic culture, not just secular culture needs a critical examination. Why the Catholic Church Must Change engages the reader to enter into a necessary yet reasoned conversation about pertinent issues, such as contraception, women’s ordination and homosexuality, and present practices surrounding the Catholic Church. Margaret Nutting Ralph critically examines pertinent topics of not just the secular culture, but the Catholic culture, that affects both families and culture as a whole, and presents a model for how to discuss difficult issues in a respectful and thoughtful manner. Ralph successfully discusses the issues surrounding the Catholic Church with awareness that the church is not the whole body of Christ.

Full Product Details

9781442220782

Table of Contents

Reviews

Why the Catholic Church Must Change is not primarily a book for scholars, but a convincing and heartfelt plea from a biblically inspired, well informed, and committed Catholic to the hierarchical leadership of the Church that for the good and future of the Church the leadership should change its teachings and strategies on seven hot button issues in the Catholic Church today. It deserves the widest possible leadership. -- Charlie Curran, Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University

Why the Catholic Church Must Change is not primarily a book for scholars, but a convincing and heartfelt plea from a biblically inspired, well informed, and committed Catholic to the hierarchical leadership of the Church that for the good and future of the Church the leadership should change its teachings and strategies on seven hot button issues in the Catholic Church today. It deserves the widest possible readership. -- Charlie Curran, Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University Seldom have I read such calm, compelling, and well-reasoned theological reflection on very contentious church issues. Yet the ordinary layperson can remain informed and engaged here! I think Margaret Nutting Ralph goes well beyond any too easy progressive or conservative dualisms, and authentically searches for authentic Catholic Tradition and teaching. You will find both spiritual intelligence and comfort here. -- Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, New Mexico

Why the Catholic Church Must Change is not primarily a book for scholars, but a convincing and heartfelt plea from a biblically inspired, well informed, and committed Catholic to the hierarchical leadership of the Church that for the good and future of the Church the leadership should change its teachings and strategies on seven hot button issues in the Catholic Church today. It deserves the widest possible readership. -- Charlie Curran, Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University

Author Information

Margaret Nutting Ralph is the director of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree program for Catholics at Lexington Theological Seminary and teaches in the Permanent Deacon Program for St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. She has given numerous presentations on biblical topics to parish, diocesan, state and national groups throughout the United States, in Nassau and in Canada, including the East Coast Conference; Anaheim Conference; National Conference of Catechetical Leaders; Chief Administrators of Catholic Education; National Catholic Education Association; Gather Me a People Conference. She has published many books and articles on religion and the church, including A Walk Through the New Testament: An Introduction for Catholics (2009) and bestseller And God Said What? An Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms (2003).

Tab Content 6

Countries Available