Catholics and Contempt: How Catholic Media Fuel Today's Fights, and What to Do about It

By John Allen Jr

Book Overview

The culture of contempt--the lust to wound perceived opponents who are seen not just as wrong but as evil--has become global in scope. Fed by the rise of "cheap speech" in media, seismic shifts in digital technology, and a boom industry based on selling outrage, people are increasingly unable to understand, much less dialogue with, their ideological rivals.

The Catholic Church understands itself as the evangelizer of culture; yet this culture of contempt has evangelized much of the Church. A distressing range of Catholic media platforms and commentators have introduced the poison of contempt into the heart of Catholic life--and with exacting fidelity.

In this timely and important new book, Vatican journalist and Crux Editor John L. Allen Jr. offers a bracing analysis of our fractured Catholic media landscape. Examining six case studies of the culture of contempt wounding the Church--four from around the globe, and two from the United States--Allen offers not only a sobering look at the direction Catholic media has headed, but an urgent call for it to change course.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1685789951
• ISBN13: 9781685789954
• Release Date: June 2023
• Publisher: Word on Fire
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.2"