The Catholic Social Imagination
Activism and the Just Society in Mexico and the United States
The Catholic Social Imagination
Activism and the Just Society in Mexico and the United States
The reach of the Catholic Church is arguably greater than that of any other religion, extending across diverse political, ethnic, class, and cultural boundaries. But what is it about Catholicism that resonates so profoundly with followers who live under disparate conditions? What is it, for instance, that binds parishioners in America with those in Mexico? For Joseph M. Palacios, what unites Catholics is a sense of being Catholic—a social imagination that motivates them to promote justice and build a better world.
In The Catholic Social Imagination, Palacios gives readers a feeling for what it means to be Catholic and put one’s faith into action. Tracing the practices of a group of parishioners in Oakland, California, and another in Guadalajara, Mexico, Palacios reveals parallels—and contrasts—in the ways these ordinary Catholics receive and act on a church doctrine that emphasizes social justice. Whether they are building a supermarket for the low-income elderly or waging protests to promote school reform, these parishioners provide important insights into the construction of the Catholic social imagination. Throughout, Palacios also offers important new cultural and sociological interpretations of Catholic doctrine on issues such as poverty, civil and human rights, political participation, and the natural law.
320 pages | 5 line drawings | 6 x 9 | © 2007
Religion: Christianity, Religion and Society
Sociology: Race, Ethnic, and Minority Relations, Social Change, Social Movements, Political Sociology, Social Institutions
Reviews
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations
Part 1: The Catholic Church Takes on Social Justice as Doctrine
Chapter 1: The Mission and Struggle of Roman Catholics to Create a Just Society
Chapter 2: Political and Cultural Construction of the Catholic Social Doctrine
Part 2: One Church, One Border, Two Justices
Chapter 3: The U.S. Case: Pragmatic andPractice Oriented
Chapter 4: The Mexican Case: Doctrinally Oriented
Part 3: A Faith That Does Justice?
Chapter 5: The Catholic Social Imagination as Doctrine and Practice
Appendix A:Principles of Catholic Social Justice Doctrine
Appendix B:Research Sites and Instruments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
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