Catholic Intellectuals and the Challenge of Democracy - Paperback

by Jay P. Corrin (Author)

Tracing the development of progressive Catholic approaches to political and economic modernization, Catholic Intellectuals and the Challenge of Democracy disputes standard interpretations of the Catholic response to democracy and modernity in the English-speaking world--particularly the conventional view that the Church was the servant of right-wing reactionaries and authoritarian, patriarchal structures.

Starting with the writings of Bishop Wilhelm von Ketteler of Germany, the Frenchman Frédérick Ozanam, and England's Cardinal Henry Edward Manning, whose pioneering work laid the foundation of the Catholic "third way," Corrin reveals a long tradition within Roman Catholicism that championed social activism. These visionary writers were the forerunners of Pope John XXIII's aggiornamento, a call for Catholics to broaden their historical perspectives and move beyond a static theology fixed to the past.

By examining this often overlooked tradition, Corrin attempts to confront the perception that Catholicism in the modern age has invariably been an institution of reaction that is highly suspicious of liberalism and progressive social reform. Catholic Intellectuals and the Challenge of Democracy charts the efforts of key Catholic intellectuals, primarily in Britain and the United States, who embraced the modern world and endeavored to use the legacies of their faith to form an alternative, pluralistic path that avoided both socialist collectivism and capitalism.

In this sweeping volume, Corrin discusses the influences of Cecil and G. K. Chesterton, H. A. Reinhold, Hilaire Belloc, and many others on the development of Catholic social, economic, and political thought, with a special focus on Belloc and Reinhold as representatives of reactionary and progressive positions, respectively. He also provides an in-depth analysis of Catholic Distributists' responses to the labor unrest in Britain prior to World War I and later, in the 1930s, to the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War and the forces of fascism and communism.

Back Jacket

A fascinating study of the distinctly varying perspectives of early-twentieth-century intellectuals consciously moved by Catholic principles. Corrin's careful analysis shows that thinkers like Belloc, Chesterton, H. A. Reinhold, and Luigi Sturzo defy easy categorization. An excellent guide to their different responses to issues like the Spanish Civil War. --John P. McCarthy, professor of history and Director, Institute of Irish Studies, Fordham University

"Professor Corrin has produced an informative, balanced, and insightful study of the Catholic Church's liberal or progressive voices from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. This book is required reading for anyone reflecting on how the Church should relate to the contemporary world." --Robert Krieg, professor of theology, University of Notre Dame

"Professor Corrin's book is a significant contribution to our understanding of the Catholic reaction to the modern world, and particularly to the cataclysmic events of the 1920s and 1930s. Corrin succeeds splendidly in bringing to light the activities of a small and oft-ignored group of progressive Catholics struggling against reactionary critics to show the world that Church teaching was not hostile to democracy. The author's wide reading in the sources and his clear explanatory style make this work necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand Catholic thought as an essential element in the entire fabric of intellectual discourse on the problems of democracy and of the poor." --Jose Sanchez, professor of history at Saint Louis University and author of The Spanish Civil War as a Religious Tragedy

Jay P. Corrin is Chairman and Professor of the Division of Social Science in the College of General Studies at Boston University. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc: The Battle against Modernity.

Author Biography

Jay P. Corrin is Chairman and Professor of the Division of Social Science in the College of General Studies at Boston University. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc: The Battle against Modernity.