Good Catholic Girls: How Women Are Leading the Fight to Change the Church

by Angela Bonavoglia

Book Overview

The widely exposed transgressions of priests within the Catholic Church stunned the faithful and sent a new surge of energy through the progressive church reform movement in the United States. Despite the movement's growing profile, the world has only recently learned that Catholic women are the driving force behind reform. Good Catholic Girls is a lively account of these courageous women, as seen through the eyes of an impassioned journalist,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060570636
• ISBN13: 9780060570637
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

St. Augustine would like this book

Angela Bonavoglia has written an up to date view of the Catholic Church in the United States. She has researched and interviewed wherever she could find Catholic women. These Catholic women are enrgetic, hard working and faithful. Faithful in the broadest sense of the word, followers of the good news to the outcasts of society and the good news of mutuality which Jesus preached. Most importantly she brings the beauty of Catholicism into full view through her stories of the women in the Church. "Ah beauty, ever ancient, ever new..." Augustine wrote. The new beauty of the Catholic Church is found in her women. Gaile M. Pohlhaus, Ph.D. Coordinator Villanova Theology Institute Villanova University

Should we accept injustices in beloved institutions?

This is the real essence of what Ms. Bonavoglia is writing about. Just as so many people so many times have made the same decision - do you stand and fight or do you cut and run? It's not always an easy choice, but certainly not one which should be trivialized. Just try applying the same "why don't you just leave" logic to social reformers and see how biased it is to do so.

Relentless Resurrection

Good Catholic Girls is the good news story coming out of the Catholic Church today. At long last, we are heartened by living beacons of hope and courage and faith. These women are walking to Jerusalem, taking on the status quo mired in laws that exclude, proclaiming the gospel message of a banquet table set for all people, and, most importantly, willing to surrender to the consequences of their life's calling -no matter what is required. Why? Because they believe in a church that is embued with relentless resurrection. A church, in imitation of the Christ, that is always coming into a new way of being - no matter what the price. Thank you, Angela, for reminding us of who we are called to be!

If you want to be inspired.....

In the midst of the abuse scandals surrounding the Catholic Church, the ongoing disaffection of many Americans who would like a little more protection that the rhythm method, and the isolation of the "ownership society" (taking care of "me" first) comes this book that reminded me how inspiring some religious activists can be. This is a heartening and heart-felt story about women activists in the Church, told with verve. If you are at all interested in spirituality and the search for something greater than yourself, read about these women who keep on fighting for their beliefs and women's equal role in the Catholic Church.

Who Knew? Read and Learn

Who Knew? Read and Learn. As a Jewish male, I don't usually walk around wondering what's up with radical nuns. But after a well-read friend recommended Bonavoglia's book I was fascinated to discover that there ARE reform movements in the scandal-ridden RC church, and some are led by women who remind me of the civil rights leaders of my youth. Brava! And Mazel tov! -R. Stark