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Faith That Dares to Speak

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Never departing from his devotion to the gospel and commitment to the vision of the Second Vatican Council, Cozzens examines forces that work against attempts of the laity to engage in the life of the church. He sees a particular obstacle in the recent " major re-entrenchment by powerful curial and episcopal archconservatives" who continue to see the church as two separate segments, superior episcopal pastors and inferior docile laity.

In Cozzens' view, the church will never be quite the same in the aftermath of revelations involving clergy sexual abuse, abuse of ecclesiastical power, and the church's financial scandals. He believes that along with Vatican II it is the sexual abuse issue that has liberated the U.S. Catholic faithful. "The faithful have both the right and obligation to question structures, practices, and disciplines that no longer serve the pastoral needs of the church nor its mission," he writes.

The author finds much to be hopeful about. Today's priests, for example, may be "polarized, demoralized, fearful, and resentful, "but they are also hardworking, persevering, faithful, and, in growing numbers, courageous." He also expects positive changes to result from the work of organizations such as Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful, and the bishop-appointed National Review Board. The activity among these groups, he writes, may indicate that we are getting close to the "critical mass required to bring about meaningful structural renewal and reform" in the church.

Cozzens, a priest who is also a writer, understands that the crisis facing the Catholic Church because of the wide-ranging sexual abuse scandals bears on the "sacramental character of the church; its mission of liberation in the 'way of Jesus'; the role of the laity and particularly the role of women; the future of the ministry; [and] the church's structures." He concentrates on the conscience and work of lay persons in trying to amend the problems that allowed for the abuse. Cozzens does not go much into practical or administrative recommendations for responding to the calls by lay persons for changes in the Catholic Church. He writes about the appropriateness and desirability of the ideas and role lay persons are calling for. Such lay persons appear more than any others to be affected by the scandalous behavior of many priests and concerned about the future of the Catholic Church and the spirituality it professes to embody. The author is a respected and compelling voice for the value of the substantive involvement of lay persons in overcoming the church's troubles.

Faith That Dares To Speak is a revolutionary testimony calling for the transformation of the Catholic Church from a feudal format into a new era of accountability and transparency. The dawn of the twenty-first century has seen the Catholic Church beset with scandals, perhaps most reprehensibly sexual abuse scandals involving children, and the Church has repeatedly reacted in a manner consistent with feudal culture - secrecy, denial, and an all-out effort to protect reputation and institutional resources. This feudal response neglects the poison of unethical and even criminal behavior within the Church, and the Church itself is in dire need of transformation; the author focuses upon the voices of lay Catholics in North America calling for needed change. A highly recommended contribution to modern religious and Catholic studies.

This book is a true blessing. While discouragement and despair tempt many faithful Catholics today. "Faith That Dares To Speak" by Donald Cozzens brings hope and encouragement. This is truly a masterful analysis of the problems in the Catholic Church, done lovingly. Fr. Cozzens presents the indespensible role of the laity in healing their beloved Church There are jewels of wisdom to be found on every page. Courage, fellow Christian Catholics. Hope is to be found! Trust in the Love of Christ which is so powerfully displayed in this book.

It is alarmingly accurate. Anyone who has been involved in the church will recognize the scenarios depicted. I applaud Fr. Couzens for his blunt honesty.

Faith That Dares To Speak is a brave and passionate statement on the relationship between the clergy and the laity in the Catholic Church of the third millenium. As an "insider", Fr. Cozzens speaks from an obvious love and concern for the church that he serves. Unlike criticism from outside the Church, Fr. Cozzens is able to speak from firsthand knowledge and with a perspective that intends to build up, not tear down the Church. His expositions of and arguments against clericalism, monarchical and feudal attitudes are compelling and offered in the context of an ever-changing and pilgrim church; and offered as well with a hope and vision for reform and renewal.

While the recent abuse scandal was the obvious impetus for this work, I did find that more attention was paid to that subject than necessary to make his point. A wider exposition of the subject using other examples would have worked to make his argument stronger. In addition, he failed somewhat to acknowledge some of the more positive progress made in the relationship between clergy and laity, and could have used some of those examples to balance the topic, making it less quarrelsome.

Nonetheless, this book is thought-provoking and certain to stimulate conversation among Catholic laity and clergy alike.

This book was very insightful. It helped me understand the background of the very top-down nature of the Catholic Church and the lack of communication, especially open and honest communication and hierarchical listening as well as speaking, that continually frustrates me as a lay person. Father Cozzens courageously makes a strong and logical case for the need for change within the Church. Whether, as he suggests, the laity can lead our leadership to make the needed changes, only time will tell. He notes the power of our money (and I have already made some changes in my donations). But his book will also lead me to speak up with more courage than I have shown to date, in hopes that it will lead to a better future for our Church.

Donald Cozzens is incredibly insightful about the state of the Catholic Church today. He hits every nail right on the head... he puts things in crystal clear perspective.