Phone No. (716) 271-3657 Ext. 294

E-mail nhawkins@stbernards.edu

This course offers a historical study of the "problematic" of being American and Catholic. The focus of this historical account, while chronological in nature, is less institutional than cultural in the sense that concerns will revolve around those historical "moments" when religious/theological issues impacted on American social, political and popular culture. Students will explore those theological, historical, and social issues related to "being Catholic" in America. The method of instruction employs lecture, discussion, analysis and use of media.

Fisher, James T. Communion of Immigrants: A History of Catholics in America. NY:

Oxford University Press, 2002.

Greeley, Andrew. The Catholic Imagination, Berkley: University of California Press,

2000.

Hayes, Diana L. and Cyprian Davis, O.S.B., Taking Down Our Harps: Black Catholics

In the United States, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1998.

Orsi, Robert Anthony. The Madonna of 115^th Street: Faith and Community in Italian

Harlem, 1880-1950, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985.

Massa, Mark, SJ Catholics and American Culture: Fulton Sheen, Dorothy Day, and

The Notre Dame Football Team, New York: Crossroad Publishing Co., 1999.

Noll, Mark A. The Work we Have to Do: A History of Protestants in America.

NY: Oxford University Press, 2002

Weigel, George. Letters to a Young Catholic. NY Basic Books, 2004.

1.Full attendance at class is expected as well as the completion of weekly readings. Students are to participate in class lectures and discussion through active listening, posing questions, answering questions, and offering interpretations, critiques, and insight.

Lack of participation in class will impact upon one’s grade!

Students are expected to follow the school’s policy on absence from class. You are allowed no more than 3 absences during the semester.

2. There will be four written assignments.

Written Assignment One:

After reading the Greeley book, write a 5 page paper about the ways in which your life as an American Catholic has been shaped and impacted by the Catholic imagination. How would you explain to a non-Catholic the importance of the Catholic imagination for your spiritual growth, as well as for the well being of our church? What would your response be if this person told you that all this "Catholic stuff" is not biblically oriented and was basically "invented."

You are to write a 5-7 page paper offering a critical analysis and response to the Hayes, Orsi and Massa books. Since each chapter in the Hayes book is by a different author you should read the entire book (of course) but focus on two chapters for your paper. The same goes for the Massa book, focus on two chaptersonly for the paper.

1.Why is this book useful to use for the study of American Catholicism?

2.What is the author (an expert in some aspect of the American Catholic experience) trying to accomplish by writing this book? What is his/her thesis?

3.How did the book challenge your thinking? How did it help you understand the story of American Catholicism?

4.Any disagreements with the author? If so, be specific.

5.Add anything else you think is significant.

You have read George Wiegel’s book, Letters to a Young Catholic, for our class. In this book Wiegel (a well known and often controversial figure) shares what he believe a young Catholic needs to know about his own Catholic journey, various aspects of the "Catholic experience," and what is essential to the church.

In a 15 minute oral presentation I want you to share with the class what you would put in an e-mail, letter, or DVD to a "young" Catholic who is deciding whether or not to continue as an active member of the American Church. You would like them to opt for the church. All I can tell you about this person is that he or she is between 18 and 25 years of age, has had some Catholic school experience, has traveled a bit, and is the third child in a family of five children. You can be as creative as you want with this assignment.

Your grade will be determined by:

The way you connect with the group in your presentation.

The depth and significance of the content of your "letter."

If you are able to connect to things you have learned in this course.

If you stick to the time limit.

September 6 Introduction to the course

Considerations concerning American History

Is there an American ethos?

The Beginnings of the Nation: The Puritans

Other "fringe" groups

September 13 What is the Catholic Worldview?

Greeley’s "Catholic Imagination"

Discussion of the Greeley Text

Bringing Catholicism To The New World

Reading: Greeley Text

September 20 Catholics In The Colonies

Elements of Enlightenment Thinking

The vision of John Caroll

The Great Awakening

Readings: Fisher Chapter 2, Noll Chapters 3 and 4

Sept. 27 Aspects of the Catholic Immigrant Experience

October 4 The Immigrant Experience Continued

The "Religion of the Streets"

Discussion of Orsi Book

Victorian America and Catholicism

Important Catholic Figures

Reading: Orsi Text

October 11 The Crisis of Americanism

Spirituality of American Catholics 1866-1900

Vatican I

Syllabus of Errors and Fear of Modernity

October 18 The Black Catholic Experience

African American Spirituality

Discussion of Hayes/Davis Text

Thea Bowman: African-American Catholic

Reading: Hayes and Davis Text

October 25 Vatican II: Winds of Change for Catholicism

WW2: The Move from Outsider to Insider

Begin the Discussion of the Massa Text (Method of Irony)

Reading: Massa Book Chapters 1-5

Nov. 1 The Assimilation of Catholics Continued

Discussion of Massa Text Continued

The life and spirituality of Thomas Merton

Reading: Massa Text Chapters 6 to the end

November 8 The Heritage of Catholic Social Action

The Legacy of Rev. John R. Ryan

Today’s immigration issues and the church

Hispanic Catholicism / Mujerista Catholicism

November 15 The Era of the Laity

***Oral Presentations in Class

November 29 Oral Presentations continued if necessary

Yves Congar’s Understanding of the Laity

Discussion of Weigel book

December 6 What is the future of the American Church: Concerns and Hopes

(Final Class) What is the impact of recent scandals on the people of God?

What does it mean to be Catholic in the 21^st century?