John Gehring - The Francis Effect: A Radical Popes Challenge to the American Catholic Church

Praise for The Francis Effect

In this narrative and analysis of the papacy of Pope Francis, Gehring provides a detailed primer of opposition to Francis within the Roman Catholic Church as well as a discussion of current progressive Catholic leaders.... Highly recommended. CHOICE

Gehring builds a compelling, readable case for viewing Francis as a Pope uniquely equipped to struggle against the vices of his age. New Republic

I recommend this book highly.... It is well written and insightful, never getting bogged down, and, finally, posing the question the bishops need to start answering: Is the Church in the U.S. going to stand with Francis or not? And, if so, what changes can we anticipate and welcome? These are important questions, and they will not be answered easily or quickly, but Gehring has given us a fine frame for wrapping our heads around the issues at stake. National Catholic Reporter

Gehrings book provides a valuable roadmap to the different forces at play. The book is populated by mini-vignettes of dozens of Catholicswell-known and otherwisewho weigh in on Francis.... They give a helpful panorama of the Catholic landscape according to Gehring. America: The Jesuit Review

The strength of Gehrings treatise is his juxtaposition of the fresh winds of mercy and reform that Francis has unleashed alongside the history of the transformation of the American bishops from the 1970s to the present.... Anyone wanting a smart, readable, and optimistic account of the Francis era will welcome Gehrings account.

Theological Studies

Gehring exactly captures the elation Pope Francis has inspired by describing his papacy as an unexpected gift. In The Francis Effecthis shrewd, thoughtful, and richly detailed account of the struggles inside the American Catholic Churchhe explains why. Gehring combines a deep understanding of the forces at work within Catholicism with a believers knowledge that faith not only informs but also transcends day-to-day politics. He is so right in insisting that Francis opens an unparalleled opportunity for the Church that it dare not miss. E.J. Dionne Jr., Georgetown University; author of Souled Out and Our Divided Political Heart

In Pope Franciss young papacy, he has already proven to be a transformative figure in the global Catholic Churchand, even more, one of the few real conversation changers in the world today. Gehrings accessible and insightful book skillfully documents the deep divisions in U.S. Catholicism and U.S. politics that have emerged in the past few decades. In the process, Gehring shows us why the bold vision of Pope Francis is so necessary and so appealing to many Catholics, other people of faith, and non-believers alike. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what Franciss message may mean for the future of this country. Jim Wallis, New York Times bestselling author of The (Un)Common Good: How the Gospel Brings Hope to a World Divided

Gehrings remarkable, well-documented analysis of the Churchs challenges, struggles, and hopes in a dramatically evolving world since the Second Vatican Council comes at a propitious moment of opportunity. The Francis effect offers a profoundly relational and exciting vision that should lead to a new solidarity in the human family, one in which everyone is valued and no one is excluded. William S. Skylstad, Bishop Emeritus of Spokane, Washington; former president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Gehring takes a very perceptive look at how the Francis pontificate is challenging Catholic leadership in the United States after years of a narrow culture war vision of the churchs mission. The book offers fresh insight into the real Francis effect, which involves a profoundly new understanding of the churchs doctrinal tradition and its development. John Thavis, former Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service; author of The Vatican Diaries

Gehring provides the most thoughtful answer yet to the biggest question about Americas biggest church: What has been the Francis Effect, both inside and outside Catholicism? While pundits and partisans provide their own superficial and self-serving conclusions, here the answer is grounded in rich historical context, careful nuance, and incisive observation. Anyone who wants to go beyond the headlines and understand the potential forand constraints uponchange in the Francis era should read this book.

David E. Campbell, University of Notre Dame; coauthor of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us

Gehring provides an acute account of how a vocal minority of culture warrior bishops and activists tried to reduce Catholic teaching to Republican talking points. More importantly, he also shows how Pope Francis is healing wounds and breathing new life into the Catholic Church in America. M. Cathleen Kaveny, Boston College; author of Laws Virtues

How the Francis era is received by an American hierarchy still clinging to the habits of the last two papacies will be a drama worth watching. For journalists and commentators, Gehring has written a first-class primer of events to come. For historians and ordinary Catholics in the pews, he also offers a rich chronicle of the throes the American church has struggled through over the past three decades. Drew Christiansen, SJ, Georgetown University; former editor of America

This timely book weaves historical analysis with up-to-date reporting and fresh insights to explain why Pope Franciss pontificate is a crossroads moment for the Catholic Church in the United States. Massimo Faggioli, Villanova University; author of Pope Francis: Tradition in Transition

No other book better maps the painful division that two decades of culture war have wreaked upon the Catholic Church in America. Yet this is a book inspired by rising hope. The way forward from division, Gehring insists, is underway in the joyful and pastoral papacy of Pope Francis. Stephen Schneck, The Catholic University of America

Gehrings wide-ranging explorations detail both the tensions within the U.S. church and the movements that could make the Francis effect one that re-energizes Roman Catholics. He shows just how Francis inspires hope for a church that can be united but diverseengaging and challenging the secular culture, but not at war with it.

Terrence W. Tilley, Fordham University

Gehrings essential book reminds us that the Francis effect promises not a revolution for the Catholic Church, but rather a restitution. In the context of U.S. politics, this means returning to a broad, multi-issue defense of human dignity that will expand the churchs public agenda and ensure that Catholic bishops will retain a prophetic voice in the U.S. long after todays culture war politics have passed into history. Timothy A. Byrnes, Colgate University; author of Catholic Bishops in American Politics

It is well known that significant divisions for a century or more have existed among the U.S. bishops. This book documents the more recent differences so that each reader can evaluate the merits of these disputes. The radical, joyful, pastoral style of Pope Francis has already had a noticeable and welcome effect on the American church. Anyone interested in the far-reaching influence of Franciss papacy will find Gehrings book a valuable contribution to the Francis phenomenon and the bridge the new pope has formed between traditionally opposing groups. Joseph A. Fiorenza, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston

Surveying the painful casualties of the churchs involvement in the culture wars as well as the surprising hope unleashed by Franciss papacy, Gehrings book is a must-read for anyone interested in how politically engaged, progressive Catholics are responding to this new moment in both the church and society. Vincent Miller, University of Dayton; author of