A history of the Church

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Carol Ann Drogus

What happens when liberation theology's attempt to mobilize the Brazilian poor for political and social change meets the realities of church, community, and culture in this predominantly Catholic country? In Women, Religion, and Social Change in Brazil's Popular Church, Carol Ann Drogus assesses the successes and failures of the movement as she documents how religious personality and gender affect the way the urban poor on the eastern outskirts of Sao Paulo respond to the liberationist message. All who are interested in Latin American studies, political science, sociology, anthropology, religion, and women's studies will gain much from Drogus's first-hand reports and careful analysis of the role of women, who are the majority participants in the Popular Church.

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Yves Blomme

A la charnière des XIXe et XXe siècles, trois évêques français, réputés libéraux, allaient adopter une position minoritaire lors de la crise moderniste, ainsi qu’à l’occasion de la Séparation de l’Église et de l’État. L’un d’eux, Mgr Émile Le Camus (à La Rochelle), engagé de longue date dans le mouvement biblique catholique débutant, n’avait eu de cesse de tenter de parvenir à l’épiscopat dans le but d’entreprendre la rénovation du catholicisme par la réforme des études dans les séminaires. Parvenu à ses fins, il aura surtout à faire face à la crise ouverte entre l’Église et la République, dans laquelle il se démarquera encore en appelant de ses vŒux la Séparation.

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José M. Sánchez

"Pope Pius XII's alleged silence in the face of the destruction of the European Jews during World War II has been the subject of a fierce controversy that has continued unabated ever since Rolf Hochhuth's The Deputy made the charge so spectacularly in 1963. Numerous critics have accused Pius of everything from deliberate anti-Semitism to collusion with the Nazi regime, while equally partisan defenders have argued that his silent diplomacy saved hundreds of thousands of Jews and other innocent victims from Nazi terror. So contentious has Pius' role become that the phrase "the silence of Pius XII" has taken on a life of its own, beyond the facts.". "In this work, Jose M. Sanchez offers a new approach to the controversy. He discusses the reasons given for Pius' behavior by the significant authors who have contributed to the dispute and evaluates their findings in the light of the published documents. He studies the controversial events that critics have cited to prove their contentions about the Pope, from his role in the negotiation of the German concordat of 1933 to the end of World War II in 1945. Sanchez provides a full examination of Pius' public and private comments on the war and the destruction of the European Jews.". "This analysis moves outside the traditional views to rephrase the issues. It is the first work to clearly and completely summarize the basic charges and defenses. It is also the first to bring to the dispute a full treatment of Pius' personality in the context of the institutional framework within which he operated. With a conclusion that summarizes the findings and offers the author's judgment on the issues, this study will enable readers to evaluate and understand one of the most heated controversies of modern times."--BOOK JACKET.

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John Haldane

In 'Faithful Reason' noted Catholic philosopher John Haldane explores various aspects of intellectual and practical life from a perspective inspired by Catholic thought and informed by his distinctive philosophical approach, 'Analytical Thomism'.