Could some recommend a good book on Vatican II (it's historical impact on the church, both good and bad)

  • Thread starter Thread starter dcarollo
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dcarollo

Guest
I’m wondering if someone could recommend a solid, balanced book on Vatican II.
As a fairly new Catholic, I’ve heard conflicting opinions about Vatican II.

I’d like to understand more about the history of the Catholic Church following the era of the 60s, particularly the disturbing stories I have read about the decline of the priesthood in the United States, the decline of seminary enrollments, other vocations.

Any recommended reading?
Thanks,
Dan
 
Iota Unum: A Study of Changes in the Catholic Church in the Twentieth Century Paperback
by Romano Amerio

The description on Amazon says:
A complete critique of the crisis, covering the conduct and documents of Vatican II, the priesthood, catechetics, religious orders, feminism, ecumenism, faith, morality, Catholic culture, liturgy, and more from the time of John XXIII to 1985. Romano Amerio (†1997) was professor at the Academy of Lugano, consultant to the Preparatory Commission of Vatican II, and a peritus at the Council —a scholar and an insider!
Click to expand...
I have this book and have read some of it. It is thorough and knowledgeable but I found it challenging, heavy reading. Fr. Z has written about it on his blog: wdtprs.com/blog/2009/07/the-return-of-iota-unum-by-romano-amerio/
 
If you’re looking for something balanced, I recommend Ralph McInerny’s What Went Wrong with Vatican II. It’s a nice, readable overview of the aftermath of the Council from the vantage point of one who supports the Conciliar documents themselves.

For what it’s worth, this is the book we used when I took a class on Vatican II.
 
*The Rhine Flows into the Tiber *covers the council itself year by year.

Fr. Andrew Greeley’s book, The Catholic Revolution, discusses changes in the U.S. from a sociological/statistical point of view.
 
yinekka said:
Hi Dan,

You might like to check these out:

amazon.com/Trojan-Horse-City-Dietrich-Hildebrand/dp/0918477182
TROJAN HORSE IN THE CITY OF GOD
DIETRICH VON HILDEBRAND

christendom-awake.org/pages/trower/turmoil&truth.htm
TURMOIL AND TRUTH PHILLIP TROWER

amazon.com/Battle-American-Church-Revisited/dp/0898705320/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377759667&sr=1-9&keywords=george+kelly
THE BATTLE FOR THE AMERICAN CHURCH REVISITED
MSGR GEORGE KELLY
Click to expand...
Thank you, very much.

Ed
 
Joe_5859 said:
If you’re looking for something balanced, I recommend Ralph McInerny’s What Went Wrong with Vatican II. It’s a nice, readable overview of the aftermath of the Council from the vantage point of one who supports the Conciliar documents themselves.

For what it’s worth, this is the book we used when I took a class on Vatican II.
Click to expand...
My suggestion, too.
 
Just came across another book, from Ignatius Press:

insightscoop.typepad.com/

The Relevance and Future of the Second Vatican Council
Marc Cardinal Ouellet

Also available as an e-book

You are getting spoiled for choice. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top