Catholicism in the Third Millennium

What is Catholicism? And where is the Catholic Church headed in the third millennium? These two questions provide the structure for Thomas Rausch's Catholicism in the Third Millennium. Here Rausch combines a faithful presentation of the tradition with a critical theological reflection and interpretation of where the Church is today and where it might be moving. Catholicism in the Third Millennium offers an appreciation of the forces and movements that have shaped, and continue to influence, the ongoing change and development of Roman Catholicism. Chief among these is the influence of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in reshaping Catholicism. This revised edition includes updated text from Rausch's Catholicism at the Dawn of the Third Millennium particularly the final chapter on The Unfinished Agenda" of Vatican II. Each chapter concludes with focus questions developed by Catherine E. Clifford of St. Paul's University, Ottawa. This experience of guided reading provides readers with a broad survey of Roman Catholic faith and practice in its contemporary context. For readers who wish to compare particular passages of this volume with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an outline is provided in an appendix, with references to the appropriate sections of the Catechism. A second appendix offers a glossary of terms used in the book, while a third appendix lists a number of basic works for further investigation of Catholic faith and life. Chapters are *The Church and the Council, - *Faith and the Believing Community, - *A Visible Church, - *a living Tradition, - *Sacraments and Christian Initiation, - *Christian Life and Discipleship, - *Sin, Forgiveness, and Healing, - *Sexual Morality and Social Justice, - *Prayer and Spirituality, - *The Fullness of Christian Hope, - and *The Unfinished Agenda. - Includes Appendix I: Outlook of Book, with References to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Appendix II: Glossary of Terms, and Appendix III: Basic Reference Works on Catholicism. An Index of Names, and an Index of Subjects are also included. Thomas P. Rausch, SJ, PhD, is professor of theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is the author of Catholicism at the Dawn of the Third Millennium, Reconciling Faith and Reason, and editor of the bestselling The College Student's Introduction to Theology published by Liturgical Press. Catherine E. Clifford, PhD, is a professor of theology at St. Paul's University in Ottawa, Ontario. "

About the Author :
Thomas P. Rausch, SJ, is the T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles He is author of numerous books, including Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice (2006), I Believe in God: A Reflection on the Apostles' Creed (2008), and Educating for Faith and Justice: Catholic Higher Education Today (2010), all published by Liturgical Press. Catherine E. Clifford is associate professor of theology at St. Paul University in Ontario. She received an STL from the Universit' de Fribourg and a PhD in theology from the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto. She is coeditor of Vatican II: Canadian Experiences (University of Ottawa Press, 2011).

Review :
This book would be useful to teachers and administrators in Catholic schools, to participants in R.C.I.A. programs and, in general, to anyone seeking to learn how Catholics make sense of life today.Studies in Religion ... invaluable as a learning resource for candidates enrolled in our certificate program for Catholic leadership in health, education, and social services... Thomas Rausch's accessible text, enhanced in its second edition by Catherine Clifford's comprehensive questions and glossary, should be required reading for all Catholics over the age of 50 and strongly recommended for everyone else.M.J. Marrocco, Director of Continuing Education, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario This second edition of Rausch's extremely serviceable survey of Roman Catholic faith, ethics, and practice has been augmented with updated bibliographies, focus questions, and glossary to make the work even more user-friendly for those who desire an overview of the Roman Catholic Church. A useful appendix includes a three-page list of places where topics in the present text correlate with material found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church... Rausch writes with clarity, which should make this work a fine first introduction to Catholicism for either classroom or adult education.Theology Today An expanded and updated version of Thomas Rausch's well-received, Catholicism at the Dawn of the Third Millennium (1996), this volume is a welcome source for undergraduate classes and adult study groups... after receiving the review copy of Catholicism in the Third Millennium, I decided to adopt it as the basic text for my undergraduate course on Roman Catholicism. It will be interesting to see if my students react to it as positively as I did.Catholic Studies Book Review This book provides an excellent introduction to Catholicism and the Roman Catholic Church for those who want something different than adult catechisms or theological textbooks. It thoroughly covers the basic characteristics most people take for granted when dealing with Catholicism.Theoforum