Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States by Massimo Faggioli

 

 

A POWERFUL EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF CATHOLICISM IN U.S. POLITICS AND IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH R. BIDEN.

"Faggioli offers a compelling long view; of what Biden's presidency means for American Catholics a view often missed by the mainstream media. Go out and buy this book."Mark Massa, S.J., Director, Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, Boston College

"A must-read for anyone who truly wants to understand Joe Biden."Julian Coman, Associate Editor, The Guardian

"Our rosary-carrying second Catholic president, who sprinkles his speeches with references to popular hymns and quotes from saints, is sure to evangelize in a way few other public Catholics have. Massimo Faggioli s in-depth examination of Joe Biden s Catholicism is helpful and necessary as we embark on this historic presidency."Heidi Schlumpf, Executive Editor, National Catholic Reporter

After a dramatic election amid a raging pandemic, racial violence, economic collapse and historic national divisions that have threatened our democracy, Joe Biden succeeds Donald Trump as the 46th President of the United States. For Catholics, this is a momentous occasion in US public life, as he is the second Catholic to be elected to the nation's highest office, joining John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

In 2021, Joe Biden becomes president in a very different situation than Kennedy's America. Today, Catholics play a much broader and more visible role in the public life of our country, and the triangle of relations between the White House, the Vatican, and the US Catholic Church is an essential dimension for understanding the political and religious urgency of this moment in our history.

In this ground-breaking book, historian and theologian Dr. Massimo Faggioli provides an insightful overview of Catholicism in US politics, and its place as an anchor in the life of the man elected to lead the country at a decisive crossroads, an unprecedented moment in US history.

"Read this book now and then keep it at hand for future reference as the 46th President of the United States follows his call to embody faith in this political engagement and riles some of the far-right leadership in the conservative Church."Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK, Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

"Faggioli captures the conundrum that is any faithful person, any family and any Church, and points hopefully toward many possible reconciliations that our world and the Catholic Church desperately need."Gregory W. Jordan, Executive Director of the Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities at The University of Scranton; author of The Saints Are Coming and Willie Mays Aikens: Safe at Home; screenwriter and producer of the forthcoming feature film The Royal

"This is a very important book on a very timely topic by a very thoughtful and informed theologian."John Carr, Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University

"What happened to the nation and to the church in the six decades separating the election of the first and the second Catholic presidents? Drawing upon his unparalleled insight and erudition, Massimo Faggioli helps us answer this question."Cathleen Kaveny, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology, Boston College

"Now, in Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States, Faggioli brings his skills and background to the faith and politics of his adopted country, and to what is the biggest Catholic story line to emerge since Francis was elected pope. His outsider s perspective and his deep well of knowledge provide unique perspectives for what will be an indispensable vademecum for the Biden presidency."David Gibso