Catholics in England 1950-2000 : Historical and Sociological Perspectives

In the year 2000, Catholics in England will celebrate not only the second millennial anniversary of Christ's birth, but also the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the Roman Catholic hierarchy of England and Wales following the post-Reformation penal times. The centenary in 1950 was celebrated with much reflection, but what has happened in the momentous half-century since, which has seen the development of a post-war world and the transformation of the Second Vatican Council? This book offers a comprehensive collection of research based evidence, about the huge social and religious transformations which Catholics have experienced during this period. It includes: historical perspectives of the period; testimonies by key participants in post-war instutitional Catholicism, including Papal Commission on Birth Control, World Congresses of the Laity in Rome and a variety of experiences in Catholic organizations and public life; empirical studies of English Catholicism from sociological perspectives; concluding reflections and prospects for the new millennium. Together, these contributions form a comprehensive base from which to interpret the past and to consider the future of Catholics in England.