About this Book

An engaging volume for those grappling with the state of the Church today.Informed, honest, at times humorous and always insightful, Christopher Bellitto is the perfect guide on a unique tour through 2,000 years of church history. By exploring ten major areas of change and growth, and proposing fresh perspective on the challenges the Church faces today, Bellitto offers a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of the Catholic Church.How has Church organization and governance changed? How did the papacy evolve? What about the role of the laity? Is doctrine a fixed element? How has the Mass developed? Were the sacraments ever different? How has spirituality changed? How did religious orders develop? How has the Church related to other faiths? What are the greatest challenges the Church has ever faced? Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of History at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. His most recent books are the companion volumes, The General Councils: A History of the 21 Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II (Paulist Press, 2002) and Renewing Christianity: A History of Church Reform from Day One to Vatican II (Paulist Press, 2001). His articles have appeared in the Catholic Historical Review, Church History, Cristianesimo nella storia, America, Commonweal, and other journals. He is also a frequent public speaker and media commentator.