Reviews for Faith of Our Fathers

The average rating for Faith of Our Fathers based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-08-03 00:00:00 Toby Tyler An interesting book, well written and a sort of commentary on Catholicism as the author sees it in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the great changes that followed it. His descriptions of the popular Christianity of Ireland in the 50s are very good to read, for they are similar to my own native Goa. There are a boy's description of indulgences, popular devotions (he describes the Sacred Heart Treasury to the letter), the devotion to Mary and the Saints, etc. Throughout the book, which comprises individual articles stitched together as chapters, there is a sense of the confusion that followed the rapid changes to traditional Catholicism, a Catholicism that was built on the Mass, pious acts and devotions that were either changed or swept away. Trying to take a more or less observational stance, the author laments the passing of the old Art of Dying (p.107-112) for example, the theology of the old funeral Mass with its presentation of various human emotions as expressed in the sentiments of the Dies Irae (p.119); while at the same time accepting that these things are now past. The author's synopsis is that all the organisational structures and institutions of the Church are constructs of a certain time and need updating. As these constructs were products of a certain time, they couldn't last forever: the change in or fall of Tridentine models was inevitable. Among these, he lists the papacy and the priesthood. The author certainly knows a lot about the history of the Church, the papacy and the priesthood (he is an excellent historian who *has* written highly-rated books on the protestant revolution in England and the history of the papacy). It's not surprising then, that three whole chapters are given to the papacy and episcopal control. Ultramontanism, mentioned overmuch, is not the way, says the author. The entire system before Vatican II is labelled the 'Ultramontane Church.' (p.86) Authoritarian structures must fade and the role of the papacy must be a symbol of unity and a guiding or teaching role rather than as a supreme commander of the Church. I'd never thought that HH John Paul II was an ultramontane, but the author describes his numerous trips abroad as expressions of his understanding of his own 'immediate authority and responsibility for every Catholic in the world,' (p.66) a demonstration of a 'disabling paternalism and interventionism.' (p.77) In the past, the power of the Pope could be checked by the State, or States, today 'there is noone to bind the Pope's hands.' (p.76) There are good essays on the recent history of the church in England, the issue of scandal (especially clerical scandal based on the tridentine model of a holy and sinless priesthood, which model made offences appear so much larger) and the great argument of the Inquisition. All considered, an interesting traipsy through Church traditions with a master historian. I find it intriguing that he finds himself groping behind Vatican II, towards traditions he grew up with in his native Ireland, while insisting that there is no turning back. We are all turning back, in a way. That's what belonging to a historical Church is all about.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-03-15 00:00:00 Mike Proske A professor of mine calls Sullivan "The Catholic Church's authority on authority." He was my favorite author that I read on ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church) last year - a Catholic with whom non-Catholics can easily engage and learn from on an issue where we tend to think (mistakenly in my opinion) that voices outside our own traditions are not very helpful.