Contemporary Catholicism

Course Description

A study of the landscape of contemporary Catholicism, emerging from reforms initiated by Vatican Council II (1962-65). Basic Catholic beliefs and practices; evolving models of church, ministry, vocation; new interpretations of ancient traditions and dogmas; impact of scholarship in Religion on preaching and religious education; controversies around sex and gender; feminist, liberation-theological, and social justice initiatives; movements for women’s ordination and optional priestly celibacy; demographic changes, parish closings, priest shortage; clergy sexual abuse; aesthetics of Catholic culture and imagination; re-presentations of Mary and the saints. Major focus on how Catholics in the U.S. have “lived their religion” post Vatican II.