Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans Talk About Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning

I don't understand how someone (Bill Maher)who is an atheist and hates all religions is about "Being Catholic Now". Doesn't being Catholic mean that you at least believe certain things, and at most live by them consistently?

I guess Kerry is just interested in stories about people that have had some exposure to Catholicism, regardless of the effects of that exposure.

I would be interested in a book of devout Catholics who fully embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church, and what the fruits of that experience are. Does Catholicism work? What does it mean for Catholicism to work (what is the goal)? What does it look like in this age to be a wholly committed Catholic?

Stories about people who to varying degrees reject Catholicism doesn't tell me a whole lot about the Catholic experience. I guess the point is to make people who don't believe still feel included, for whatever that is worth.

Being Catholic Now is less about being Catholic and more about human relationships to god, beliefs, rituals, and the nuances of human nature. The book could just as well be titled Being Muslim Now, Being Jewish Now, or, Being Buddhist Now -- many of the vignettes would probably be similar with different particulars. The strength of the book is that it provides a window into the spectrum of what being part of any religion or ideology encompasses. We are not all the same - thank goodness. But many of us can relate to these personal memories and insights into spiritual beliefs, because by whatever name we call it, we too, fall into the spectrum of some belief system. Being Catholic Now is a celebration of differences and unity, and promotes the freedom to explore the variations in any faith.

For "On Being Catholic," by Kerry Kennedy...
Every person I know - especially women - are conflicted about the Catholic faith. What Kerry Kennedy did in these sensitive probing interviews is show that you can be conflicted but still love your faith. Her interviews give you permission to see how others make peace with some of the sexism and backward policies but simultaneously still care about the traditions and one's deep love of God. And most importantly, her own stories show her deep abiding love of Catholicism which makes her such a credible person to explore the contradictions and joys of the faith.

As a non-Catholic dating a fervent one, I have always found myself a tad reluctant to wade into any kind of debate about this rich faith and its teachings. I guess I harbored a sense that Catholics are terribly doctrinaire. (Reading some of the reviews of this book might reinforce that view ;}) `Being Catholic Now' taught me something new, and sometimes made me laugh along the way. What I found so engrossing about Ms. Kennedy's effort is that it really shows the broad interpretations that all co-exist under the same tent. Sure some of those interviewed have left the church, but it still stamps their identity. The overall impression the book left me with is that there are all kinds of ways to be a Catholic. Just consider for a moment that when her uncle was running for president, the whispering campaign was that the Vatican would run America through a special pope-line to the White House. It did not turn out to be true, of course. Now, several generations later, Ms. Kennedy shows that if American Catholics want to fervently follow the Pope, that is fine. But they can still be strong Catholics and strong Christians while disagreeing with some of the directives from Rome. Both the light and darks sides of faith and the Catholic Church are discussed, so I find myself less reluctant to talk about the faith now. Also some anecdotes are priceless, worth the cost of the book alone! Like Susan Sarandan as a little girl thinking that she was about to have a vision because her rosary beads were illuminated under her blankets, not realizing that her aunt bought her a glow-in-the dark set!

The title of this book is misleading. I finished the book this morning and find it very odd that at least 6 of those presented left the Church years ago. I can't take their comments seriously about Catholicism today. The majority of the others are very clear that they disagree with most of Church teaching. Some appear to use the "DaVinci Code" as their catechism and not facts. Some clearly are incredibly angry and want to be as insulting as possible to the pope and those who believe. Others have clearly created their own mini churches. Only one or two appear to be Orthodox Catholics. The lone teen (19) is a true face of young adults today and displays wisdom beyond her years. She really represents the vast majority of young adults in the Catholic Church and our country who are prolife and taught by Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict. They can see the fallacies of the politically correct arguments and are starving for the truth. She and the 1 or 2 other Orthodox Catholics appear to be tossed in for the author's sense of "balance." I didn't learn anything new from the book but just deepened my confusion on why people who so clearly misrepresent Church teaching or even despise it claim to be solidly Catholic. This is dishonest, silly and very sad. I found this book to be a rush job hoping to sway Catholics from voting as Catholics. Please don't waste your money on the rants of angry feminists and uninformed, biased adults. Instead purchase Archbishop Chaput's book "Render Unto Caesar" for a clear, concise teaching and living as a Catholic today