About the Author

Andrew M. Greeley was a Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and popular novelist. He was a professor of sociology at the University of Arizona and the University of Chicago, and a research associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC). For many years, he wrote a weekly column for the Chicago Sun-Times and contributed regularly to The New York Times, the National Catholic Reporter, America, and Commonweal.

Reviews

With characteristic insouciance, Greeley, professor of sociology at the University of Arizona and bestselling novelist, sets himself the task of defining contemporary Catholicism as practiced in the U.S. What he describes as ``the fascinating, wonderful and slightly daffy story of American Catholicism since the end of the Second Vatican Council'' is explored with imaginative departures based on sociometric analyses generated at the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center. Greeley's conclusion that Catholics remain in their institutional church ``because they like being Catholic, because of loyalty to the imagery of the Catholic imagination . . . '' is buttressed by his often angry, sometimes humorous attacks on established Church figures such as St. Augustine, for his sexism. This lively, readable assessment of contemporary Catholicism may affront some readers, but will likely stimulate and challenge others. (Mar.)

Greeley the novelist is also a respected sociologist specializing in surveying the American religious scene. This particular volume, he says, is aimed at the Phil Donahues of the world, who espouse certain ``truths'' about the beliefs and behavior of American Catholics--and particularly Irish-American Catholics--that Greeley's survey shows not to be true. The survey results are presented in narrative style, with much provocative comment thrown in. He tests his theory that religion is imagination before anything else and finds that Catholics imagine differently from others. Catholics remain Catholics, he says, because they like the imagery of the Catholic imagination. Greeley's Religious Change in America ( LJ 2/15/89) offers a survey of both Protestant and Catholic opinions in a more subdued manner.-- Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, N.J.