Colleen McDannell knew the title of her new book, “The Spirit of Vatican II: A History of Catholic Reform in America,” would be provocative.
Modernists talk of the Catholic Church not living up to “the spirit of Vatican II,” while traditionalists mock the phrase as if it’s a ruse for turning the council on its head.
Yet McDannell says the title was nonetheless perfect for what she wanted to do: Tell the story of how American Catholics negotiated a time of dramatic change in their church.
“There was a spirit, and it was not just a light, frivolous, hippie, mini-skirted-nun type of thing,” said McDannell, a history professor at the University of Utah.
Read it all.
(RNS) Book Explores Lasting Impact of Vatican II on U.S. Church
Colleen McDannell knew the title of her new book, “The Spirit of Vatican II: A History of Catholic Reform in America,” would be provocative.
Modernists talk of the Catholic Church not living up to “the spirit of Vatican II,” while traditionalists mock the phrase as if it’s a ruse for turning the council on its head.
Yet McDannell says the title was nonetheless perfect for what she wanted to do: Tell the story of how American Catholics negotiated a time of dramatic change in their church.
“There was a spirit, and it was not just a light, frivolous, hippie, mini-skirted-nun type of thing,” said McDannell, a history professor at the University of Utah.
Read it all.