Church and Revolution: Catholics in the Struggle for Democracy and Social Justice - Softcover

From the author of the bestselling "Concise History of the Catholic Church" comes a fascinating overview of the Church's involvement and response to political revolution, featuring opinions by such prestigious Catholic writers as Dorothy Day, Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, and Lech Walesa. 15 photos.

imes a source of controversy regarding certain issues, the Catholic Church has in many ways lead the struggle for social justice and rights for the poor in our age. Pope John Paul II never lets an opportunity pass without insisting on the need for greater respect for human rights and the need to alleviate the pains of poverty. In the United States the Catholic Church is the single largest private organization providing assistance to the underprivileged--operating soup kitchens and shelters for the homeless, providing care for the sick, and education for the needy.
But this struggle was not always a top priority. In fact, at the time of the French Revolution the Catholic Church was among the most conservative and reactionary of the world's powers. Church and Revolution deals with the interesting historical question: How did the Catholic Church develop from being a defender of the status quo to being a progressive force in world affairs? Thomas Bokenkotter traces