Being Catholic Now: Prominent
Americans Talk About Change in the
Church and the Quest for Meaning by
Kerry Kennedy
An Honest Look At Catholocism
Some of America’s most extraordinary celebrities, artists, and thinkers
reveal what they believe Catholicism is–and what it should be
In this illuminating collection that redefines an ancient institution in the
most contemporary of terms, human-rights activist Kerry Kennedy asks
thirty-seven American Catholics to speak candidly about their own faith–
whether lost, recovered, or deepened–and about their feelings regarding
the way the Church hierarchy is moving forward.

“Has something to say to almost every Catholic, or even one-time Catholic,
who cracks open its pages. . . . One finishes the book feeling grateful for
[Kennedy’s] subjects’ honesty and moved in a hundred different ways by
what they reveal of their aspirations and struggles.”–National Catholic
Reporter
“Revealing . . . offers an unusually intimate view of how much being raised
Catholic shapes the identity of many prominent Americans, but also how
much tension many feel with the institutional church.”–Boston Globe
Personal Review: Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans
Talk About Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning by
Kerry Kennedy
There have certainly been no shortage of issues within the Catholic
Church within the past decade that certainly has made it difficult at times to
actively profess one's faith. The church sex abuse scandal, positions taken
on political issues that differ from the politics that I might believe in, and the
closing of parishes across the country have compounded frustration and at
times anger against the Catholic Church.
Having been reared within the Catholic faith and having been educated in
Catholic schools from preschool through college, faith has always been
something surrounding me but over the past decade is something that has
become something more of a faith when convenient or when necessary,
for example major religious holidays.
But recently I have attempted to put aside some of the "bad" of the
Catholic Church and have come to the realization that no matter what the
issue or organization is that I might be involved in, never will I one hundred
percent of the time believe wholly in the issue or the group. So with a new
sort of respect for what the Catholic Church offers I have been able to
reconnect to the church and feel once again a part of something important.
Thanks to the book Being Catholic Now written by Kerry Kennedy I have
gained the understanding that I am not alone. I like to think of myself as a
cafeteria Catholic, I take some of what I like about the Catholic Church and
leave behind some of the stuff that I don't like or agree with.
Kerry Kennedy is the daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and was
certainly involved in political circles not just because of her Kennedy
lineage but also because of her former marriage to Andrew Cuomo, former
New York Governor and current New York Attorney General. The
connections that she made because of her affiliations and status certainly
helped in bringing together the group of people that are outlined in the
book.

Published by Crown Forum, Being Catholic Now is a sensational
compilation of essays by prominent Americans about what the Catholic
faith means to them. Each essay is generally just a few pages long and
outlines an almost standard outline in each essay that details some historic
relevance about Catholicism and how it relates to the person writing the
essay. Most of the essays also answer the question "What would you do if
you were pope for a year." Needless to say, the responses outlined are as
varied as the group of people writing the essays.
The opinions that are outlined in the book are certainly a mixed variety, but
that is probably what faith should be. No one is going to have the exact
same opinions and beliefs about something as the person that sits next to
them does. But maybe that is the beauty of faith.
The essays range from the serious believers to the cafeteria Catholics like
myself to those who for whatever reason have chosen to completely leave
the Catholic Church. There are the Hollywood stars in the book such as
Susan Sarandon, Bill Maher and Martin Sheen and then there are political
figures such as Nancy Pelosi who all chime in their own personal beliefs as
it relates to Catholicism.
What is respectable about the way in which the essays are written and
arranged is that they are not meant to sway the reader in one direction or
another, rather, it is more an attempt to outline some different beliefs so
the reader can perhaps either supplement their own faith or rationalize
opinions and beliefs that the reader might also hold.
There are essays written by those who have devoted their lives to the
mission and belief of the Catholic Church such as Cardinal McCarrick and
other members of the faith, as well. An interesting essay by a nun outlines
her own belief that the church fails in its mission of treating all equally if
they do not allow women to become priests. The contradiction of the
church's social justice teaching and the belief that only men should be
priests is an interesting topic that comes up in several of the essayists'
entries.
Being Catholic Now reads in a very smooth and interesting fashion.
Because the chapters are individual essays most of the time being no
more than a couple of pages, the book is a perfect pick up and read and
then put down book. Because of this, you can read a couple of essays at a
time and not feel as though you are missing out on what is to come next.
The book has the ideal collection of essays needed to make the book
worthwhile. If all of the opinions were uniform there would be a lack of
substance to the book. However, thanks to the broad range of opinions
and beliefs outlined in the book, Being Catholic Now legitimizes itself as a
truly complete collection of essays all within one book.

Being Catholic Now certainly is a good book for Catholics who might wish
to learn about the faith and beliefs of some prominent named Americans.
However, realistically the book could be read by anyone that is looking at
exploring the beliefs of those that maintain a certain sense of "celebrity
status" and those who are willing to simply learn more about an interesting
topic, Catholicism, that perhaps is sullied too much by what is in the
mainstream media.
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