Earthly mission
Subtitle: the Catholic Church and world development
By: Robert Calderisi
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 278
ISBN-13: 9780300196764; 9781299788213; 9780300175127
Subjects: Social Issues; Missions; Christian Life; Christianity; RELIGION; Christian Church; General; Catholic Church; Church work with the poor; History
Description: With 1.2 billion members, the Catholic Church is the world's largest organization and perhaps its most controversial. The Church's obstinacy on matters like clerical celibacy, the role of women, birth control, and the child abuse scandal has alienated many Catholics, especially in the West. Yet in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the Church is highly esteemed for its support of education, health, and social justice. In this deeply informed book, Robert Calderisi unravels the paradoxes of the Catholic Church's role in the developing world over the past 60 years. Has the Catholic Church on balance been a force for good? Calderisi weighs the Church's various missteps and poor decisions against its positive contributions, looking back as far as the Spanish Conquest in Latin America and the arrival of missionaries in Africa and Asia. He also looks forward, highlighting difficult issues that threaten to disrupt the Church's future social role. The author's answer to the question he poses will fascinate Catholic and non-Catholic readers alike, providing a wealth of insights into international affairs, development economics, humanitarian concerns, history, and theology.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.

English.

Print version record.
Table of contents: title: Two troublemakers; title: The Catholic Church : "seven inches of condemnation and one of praise"; title: Social teaching : from Caesar to Centesimus Annus; title: Religion and development : "a task of fraternity"; title: Africa : "no one is opposed to a school"; title: Asia : a determined minority; title: Latin America : from Las Casas to Romero; title: Horror in Rwanda; title: Tilting at condoms; title: Catholic Charity : "a network to die for"; title: Looking ahead : a fading social mission?; title: Conclusions : "everyone who fights for justice upsets people."