This book contains many examples of tremendously misguided interpretations of Catholic teaching. In fact, that is why our seminary uses this text...to illustrate how this type of material distorts and perverts the teachings of the Church. It is almost humurous in its blatancy. The book is useful only because of its historical references. Read it cautiously and be sure to have a copy of the Catechism close at hand for reference.

This is a fair and comprehensive overview of the Catholic Church (mainly the US) in terms of it's institutional, spiritual,theological, ecumenical,social and philosophical life throughout the twentieh century. It does have one noticable drawback however. In chapter nine, McCarthy makes a analysis of liberation theology but doesn't really point out its faults and shortcommings,he simply brushes aside whatever criticisms there may be. In fact he doesn't even mention Fr. Andrew Greeley's criticism of liberation theology. I would have to say his analysis of liberation theology is a bit one-sided. The postscript at the end of the book borders on naivete. Aside from that he does present a fair analysis of the Church.

This book is definitely written from the perspective of liberal Catholicism. Although the author tries to present a balanced picture of the state of Catholicism today and in the recent past, he doesn't always succeed. The chapter on sexual morality, in particular, tended to present as viable possibilities some ethical schemes which are not consistent with either the Catholic tradition or the Christian orthodoxy in a broader sense. However, to give it credit, I did learn a great deal about recent ecclesiastical history and modern systems of theology. Personally, though, I would prefer a book more in keeping with the teachings of the Magisterium.