John T. McGreevy Books

The narrative of Roman Catholicism has been anything but linear, especially over the past two centuries. Beginning with the French Revolution and extending to the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, John T. McGreevy explores the upheavals and divisions that have shaped this multicultural and global institution. Through compelling individual stories and broad perspectives, the work assesses the Church’s complex role in modern history, acting as both a shaper and follower of nation-state politics, and as a conservator of hierarchies while promoting egalitarianism. McGreevy highlights the aspirations of European missionaries establishing churches worldwide, African Catholics striving for political independence, Latin American Catholics drawn to liberation theology, and Polish and South Korean Catholics advocating for democracy. The narrative features a diverse array of figures, including the Mexican revolutionary Fr. Servando Teresa de Mier, Irish emancipation hero Daniel O’Connell, and Pope John Paul II, among others. The text delves into reform currents within the Church and movements that uphold traditional beliefs, examining conflicts with political leaders, the impact of decolonization, and the trauma of clerical sexual abuse. Ultimately, McGreevy addresses the challenges faced by Pope Francis in uniting over one billion members of this vast religious community.

"A brilliant book, which brings historical analysis of religion in American culture to a new level of insight and importance." ― New York Times Book Review Catholicism and American Freedom is a groundbreaking historical account of the tensions (and occasional alliances) between Catholic and American understandings of a healthy society and the individual person, including dramatic conflicts over issues such as slavery, public education, economic reform, the movies, contraception, and abortion. Putting scandals in the Church and the media's response in a much larger context, this stimulating history is a model of nuanced scholarship and provocative reading. 18 illustrations