The Catholic Church in State Politics: Negotiating Prophetic Demands and Political Realities

By: David Yamane

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Synopsis: Yamane (sociology, Wake Forest U.) maintains that the influence of American Catholic bishops at the state level is one of the Church's best-kept secrets. He proves his point through sociological analysis, interviews and case studies, showing that the bishops have influenced policies on a range of issues such as relieving poverty and providing health care. Yamane traces the roots of the assumption that secular authorities and the Church are somehow isolated from each other and finds instead they are related in significant and sometimes surprising ways, starting with the history of the association from colonial times and examining the role of state Catholic Conferences in advocacy on policy issues, the means of influence exerted by the Church over lawmakers whether they are Catholic or not, and the state issues in which the Church is most likely to get involved. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)