Popes and Politics: Reform, Resentment, and the Holocaust

by Justus George Lawler

Overview

In the last three decades, scores of books have been published on the role of the Vatican in the modern world. Popes and Politics shows that many recent authors, whether devoted or antagonistic to the papacy, have been guilty of factual disstortions and biased interpretations that lead to a flawed picture of the church and its relation to contemporary society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826416575
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/12/2004
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.54(d)

About the Author

Justus George Lawler has been the editor of five publishing imprints and of four journals; he has taught at St. John's University and St. Mary's University in Minnesota, and Loyola University and Xavier University in Chicago. He is author/ editor of more than a score of books on religious-cultural issues.

Editorial Reviews

"This is vintage Lawler....certain to be recognized as both controversial and worthy of the widest dissemination." Charles E. Curran, author of Faithful Dissent "What is not debatable is that this book will be of importance to everyone concerned with the future of institutional religion." Margaret A. Farley, author of Personal Commitments "A book that informs, fascinates, and enriches. Lawler is a scholar who is so erudite and so balanced in all his research that he stands above and apart from any attempt at labeling him either a 'conservative' or a 'liberal.'" John F. Morley, author of Vatican Diplomacy and the Jews during the Holocaust "Lawler embodies the Catholic reformation that perpetually renews and reminds the Church of its vocation. What makes his deeply engaging and well-crafted argument intensely interesting is his framing of contemporary issues in their historical and cultural context." Jacob Neusner, author of Judaism and Christianity in the Age of Constantine "A must read for those who want to get beyond much widespread misinformation and into the heart of the issues." Francis Schussler Fiorenza, author of Foundational Theology "A brilliantly argued book, which requires several readings to grasp its balanced content. Recent years have witnessed numerous books on papal topics, which Lawler here critiques with scholarship and passion. The text is artistically written. Recommended for all academic collections." Choice "Lawler has written a very good book attacked today's most famous Catholic lefties for vitriolic bias and shoddy scholarship. One need not share all, or indeed any, of Lawler's reform agenda to admire the intellectual vigor, unflinching honesty, and puckish wit of his assaults on Wills and his cohorts." National Review "Popes and Politics by educator and papal expert Justus George Lawler is a meticulous, scholarly accounting that responds to many previously published works about the Vatican and the papacy. A brilliant, intense, and persuasiv

"A very good book attacking today's most famous Catholic lefties for vitriolic bias and shoddy scholarship. One need not share all, or indeed any, of Lawler's reform agenda to admire the intellectual vigor, unflinching honesty, and puckish wit of his assaults on Wills and his cohorts."

From the Publisher

In this brilliantly argued book, which requires several readings to grasp its balanced content, Lawler seeks to provide "genuine insight and understanding" regarding the modern papacy and its relationship to world events, especially the Holocaust. Recent years have witnessed numerous books on papal topics, which Lawler here critiques with scholarship and passion. He attempts to expose flawed historical presuppositions and addresses the bias of strident personal convictions characterizing many of these recent publications. The book is divided into three main sections: a critical analysis of contemporary works of "papaphobia," a review of principles for authentic papal reform, and proposals for its future renewal, both personal and ecclesiastical. The text is artistically written, which may delight the academician and frustrate the general reader. The bibliographies and detailed footnotes, which are required reading, are employed to assist in focused reading. Lawler has written numerous books on arts and religion, including the recent Hopkins Reconstructed, and was the editor of Continuum: A Journal of History, Hermeneutics and Social Concern. His latest is recommended for all academic collections. John-Leonard Berg, Univ. of Wisconsin, Platteville Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Lawler spends his first few chapters arguing that most commentators on the modern papacy have badly distorted it and Catholicism in order either to support or condemn it. Then he describes what he sees as principles of authentic reform in recent and contemporary Catholics, and offers proposals for the church's institutional and personal renovation. Lawler has written widely on religious and cultural issues. The book is not indexed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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