Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice

What will the next generation of Catholics be like? Will they have a strong sense of their identity as Catholic Christians, or will they reflect a more generic Christian identity, without the distinctives associated with Catholicism? Some social commentators suggest that the Catholic identity of young adult Catholics is in jeopardy, with a less ecclesial faith, a ?thin? commitment to the institutional church, and a lack of familiarity with the Catholic tradition. Others argue that there are signs that a new generation of younger Catholics is emerging, not all of whom fall easily into the liberal/conservative categories, though many Catholics over fifty tend to dismiss them as conservative, neo-conservative, or even restorationist. Thomas Rausch?s book examines a number of recent studies of young adult Catholics as well as different ways that being Catholic is developed and supported, from the Catholic imagination to a reexamination of Christian origins in the light of the charges made in The Da Vinci Code, to the domestic church and Catholic colleges and universities.?Numerous church commentators have suggested that, in a postmodern world, sustaining Catholic identity will be among the greatest challenges facing the church today. No theologian has more insightfully addressed these challenges than Tom Rausch. His careful analysis of our contemporary culture of choice and its implications for Catholic identity ends, not in despair, but in a vigorous reaffirmation of a robust Catholicism that can still speak to our world. He does not yield to a new Catholic triumphalism and dogmatism, but appeals instead for a more developed Catholic imagination. His mastery of contemporary theology is obvious, yet it is displayed with a light and accessible touch. Rausch?s critique of contemporary Catholicism is often brutally honest, yet his proposals for church renewal are realistic and compelling, leaving the reader with a sense of hope for the future.? Richard R. Gaillardetz, Ph.D. Department of Philosophy Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies University of Toledo?Where will the next generation of American Catholics come from? If you?re concerned about that question, you should read Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice. Rausch offers a searching look at the challenges of forming Catholics in the setting of U.S. pluralism. He focuses on the key issue of post-subcultural Catholic identity as formed in both families and institutions. The chapter on The DaVinci Code is an added bonus.? William L. Portier Mary Ann Spearin Chair of Catholic Theology University of Dayton