Overview

"The Catholic Church at the dawn of the twenty-first century is arguably the last feudal system in the West. Once the feudal structure of the church is recognized, the bishops' response to the clergy abuse crisis comes into focus. Bishops and other church authorities reacted to the scandal the only way their feudal culture allowed--with secrecy, denial, and a no holds barred effort to protect the reputation, authority, and resources of the institution. While tragic, and in many cases reprehensible, their response was consistent with the way feudal systems function. In Faith That Dares to Speak, Donald Cozzens addresses the laity's role in challenging a feudal church to embrace accountability and transparency and to bring light where there is now darkness. Awakened to their dignity and responsibility as full, equal, and adult members of the church, lay Catholics in North America are finding their voice and daring to speak to church authorities long accustomed to deferential obedience and compliance. Church life, Cozzens believes, will never be quite the same. The current crisis in the Church, while profoundly disturbing and troubling, offers possibilities for a renewed and revitalized Church. In Faith That Dares to Speak, Cozzens underscores the critical need for laity and clergy to speak honestly and courageously to church authorities. He addresses the obstacles to faithful speech as well as the spiritual and moral foundations of mature, adult conversation and commitment. The current crisis in the Church, while profoundly disturbing and troubling, offers possibilities for a renewed and revitalized Church. In Faith That Dares to Speak, Cozzens underscores the critical need for laity and clergy to speak honestly and courageously to church authorities. He addresses the obstacles to faithful speech as well as the spiritual and moral foundations of mature, adult conversation and commitment. Chapters include ""The Courage to Speak,"" ""The Humility to Listen,"" ""Love That Dares to Question,"" ""The Liberation of the Laity,"" ""Voice of the Faithful,"" and ""Contemplative Conversation."""

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9780814665893

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Reviews

This is an important book. Its credibility is enhanced by the fact that the author, who so strongly advocates courage, integrity, and humility, has clearly demonstrated these virtues in his own writing. His voice rings true.Pastoral Music Cozzens is bold in his writing, writing he describes as weighty and serious.Ministry & Liturgy His book is a serious contribution to the conversation taking place at this most critical time in the history of our church.National Catholic Reporter Cozzens' book . . . has much to offer. Many Catholics in the United States have a growing sense that the Catholic Church is no longer speaking in a language and in a manner that addresses their needs and their hopes, but they don't know what to say or do to be heard. Cozzens offers them an affirmation of what they feel and a call to action to do something about it. Emmanuel With remarkable candor and courage, Fr. Donald Cozzens has issued a resounding challenge to the Catholic Church-the WHOLE church-to begin `a passionate conversation' between the laity, the clergy and the hierarchy.SALT Courageous discipleship can renew our church, ' Father Don Cozzens says, and laity, religious, clergy, and bishops alike are disciples. Both as a psychiatrist and as a Catholic college president, I praise his art of co-responsible dialogue at a time when so many voices fall into fruitless and counter-productive opposition. What American Catholics need--all of us together, and especially the rising generations--is a deeper, truer and more accountable unity in going forward. Cozzens opens doors and builds bridges in what has to be understood as genuine pastoral writing.Mary Jane England, M.D., President, Regis College . . . this is no ordinary book about the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic world.Ministry & Liturgy Donald Cozzen's Faith That Dares to Speak is a poignantly honest, deeply caring, painfully direct post-pedophilia analysis of the present state of the Catholic church. At the same time, this book is different because more than simply revisit the pedophilia problem, it points out what the church must do to rebuild its place and moral suasion in this culture at this time. It puts its finger on the weaknesses of the system that led to this kind of internal debacle and names the pieces that must be replaced if the church is to rise from this scandal stronger than ever. It is easy for an institution to ignore this kind of social audit because it calls for more than public relations strategies; it calls for a total review of principles, purpose and internal practices. But you get the idea as you read it, that though ignore it we may, we do so at our peril. This book is a gift to the church. Joan Chittister, Benetvision, Erie, PA

Cozzens is bold in his writing, writing he describes as weighty and serious.Ministry & Liturgy His book is a serious contribution to the conversation taking place at this most critical time in the history of our church.National Catholic Reporter This is an important book. Its credibility is enhanced by the fact that the author, who so strongly advocates courage, integrity, and humility, has clearly demonstrated these virtues in his own writing. His voice rings true.Pastoral Music Cozzens' book . . . has much to offer. Many Catholics in the United States have a growing sense that the Catholic Church is no longer speaking in a language and in a manner that addresses their needs and their hopes, but they don't know what to say or do to be heard. Cozzens offers them an affirmation of what they feel and a call to action to do something about it. Emmanuel With remarkable candor and courage, Fr. Donald Cozzens has issued a resounding challenge to the Catholic Church-the WHOLE church-to begin `a passionate conversation' between the laity, the clergy and the hierarchy.SALT Courageous discipleship can renew our church, ' Father Don Cozzens says, and laity, religious, clergy, and bishops alike are disciples. Both as a psychiatrist and as a Catholic college president, I praise his art of co-responsible dialogue at a time when so many voices fall into fruitless and counter-productive opposition. What American Catholics need--all of us together, and especially the rising generations--is a deeper, truer and more accountable unity in going forward. Cozzens opens doors and builds bridges in what has to be understood as genuine pastoral writing.Mary Jane England, M.D., President, Regis College . . . this is no ordinary book about the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic world.Ministry & Liturgy Donald Cozzen's Faith That Dares to Speak is a poignantly honest, deeply caring, painfully direct post-pedophilia analysis of the present state of the Catholic church. At the same time, this book is different because more than simply revisit the pedophilia problem, it points out what the church must do to rebuild its place and moral suasion in this culture at this time. It puts its finger on the weaknesses of the system that led to this kind of internal debacle and names the pieces that must be replaced if the church is to rise from this scandal stronger than ever. It is easy for an institution to ignore this kind of social audit because it calls for more than public relations strategies; it calls for a total review of principles, purpose and internal practices. But you get the idea as you read it, that though ignore it we may, we do so at our peril. This book is a gift to the church. Joan Chittister, Benetvision, Erie, PA

Author Information

Donald Cozzens, PhD, (1939–2021) a priest and an award-winning writer, was author of a number of best-selling books published by Liturgical Press including The Changing Face of the Priesthood, Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church, Faith That Dares to Speak, Freeing Celibacy, and The Spirituality of the Diocesan Priest. He was writer in residence at John Carroll University where he taught in the religious studies department.

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