Why I Am A Catholic

Wills is an authoritative and passionate proponent for change in the church. His Why am I Catholic is a sequel to his book Papal Sin in which he explains was very much a critique of the papacy. Diving back into his early experience as a Jesuit seminary student in Missouri, Wills brings a unique insight to the church which is unparalleled in his educational knowledge. This book is for someone who is open to exploring the truths of the faith without taking things for granted as they are handed down by the hierarchy of the church. Wills delves into the historical context of the beginning of the papacy through the Renaissance into modern times exploring the results of Vatican II and Pope Benedicts reign as pope. He concludes with exploring the Creed which is the foundation of faith for all Catholic belief and tradition. I found this an insightful read which allowed me to better understand my faith in its entire context. While Wills takes on the perspective of reforming a church, which might not be everyone's cup of tea, I found it very enlightening to constantly like as within a democracy questioning the faith and pushing it to be more of a church for the people as a whole. Run by the people and not solely by the elected few or enlightened ones.

I originally read this on my tablet but found the book itself to be a lot more satisfying. I like to underline and comment as I read non fiction. I like the way wills rights and he has done a lot of research to get the history right. A conservative right wing Catholic may not appreciate this book but I like the honest history and his approach to Catholicism. I am a cradle Catholic and have always loved my church but with my eyes fully opened. While this book may have been written as an answer to Papal Sin, I think it stands alone very well and gives a wonderful review of early Christianity, even before it existed as such.

After a brief history of his life in seminary, the author proceeds to deliver a very polemical history of the Church, with all the misdeeds and errors, before finally, near the close of the book, getting back to the question of why he's (still) a Catholic, without really giving a satisfactory answer.

I did not expect this to be a history of the papacy. The title is really superfluous. It was interesting, but I would recommend it only to people who want a history of the Roman Catholic popes.

As a lapsed Catholic who read Wills's other books (What Jesus/Paul/the Gospels Meant and Papal Sin), I then found "Why I am a Catholic" "a must." To recap:I loved the "Meant Trilogy" because Wills is an incredibly concise, informed, and opinionated author. The man taught Greek for ages and you can clearly see that he has poured over the Bible with care, thought, and reverent searching. After many decades, he distilled his vision of Christianity in 3 slim, easy-to-read books. If you ever sat in Church listening to the readings and thinking, on its face, this makes no sense, then these books are a superb starting place. Or perhaps you decided to tackle the historical Jesus, only to find yourself in a truly bewildering maze. These books are just what the doctor ordered.Then Papal Sin, which laid out several awful chapters from papal history. The basic thesis: once the papacy conceived of itself as God's unique and singular gift to mankind, then its preservation and image as incapable of error became paramount, even when the price was justice, intellectual integrity, charity.Now his "Why" book, written because so many people asked him this question. Enter the historian Wills, who shows us how incredibly changing and typically precarious the papacy has been. The papacy has been held by heretics, warlords, dimwits, and lovers of power. Let's just be honest. And the papacy as we see it today--largely through the experiences of JPII and Benedict--is a very recent development. The "everything-but-infallible" statements that JPII was fond of and now his successor loves to issue are dangerous exaggerations of that office. What is the papacy for Wills? Focusing on the history of the early church, he thinks it is a necessary and priceless symbol of unity around which the people of God can organize. What a refreshing thought. But does that vision describe the papacy of the Church now?I marked it down (would have given it 4.5 stars) somewhat because it is "3-books-in-one," each with a different style. The first is Wills the autobiographer, the second is Wills the historian (great stuff!), and the third is the believer (some of the material seems less rich than is typical for Garry). Each has a somewhat different voice and, depending one's tastes, has varying appeal.But minor. The book is a mature person's guide to the papacy -- someone who wants the historical record as a perspective with which to contextualize the present circumstance. And someone who, despite the nastiness of what has come before, can still look to the Church with hope. Job well done.

I just read this book and loved it. As other reviewers have noted, there is a middle section that compresses the history of the church, which is slow reading if you are not interested in history. I am and enjoyed it.I was growing up Catholic shortly after Mr. Wills. I identified with so much that he discussed. I even did volunteer work for Triumph Magazine around 1966 in Washington D.C. where he worked briefly. I remember L. Brent Bozell but I do not recall Mr. Wills, so our time frames may not have overlapped. I felt that the book truly connected with me and enjoyed it immensely. I also thought the Apostle's Creed analysis was very cogent.Gary Grelli

Although I have enormous respect for GW's obvious intellect and knowledge, in this instance I've learned more about what I think of as"cultural Catholics" from colleagues and friends. They have an emotional / cultural attachment to some doctrinal / faith based issues. Ask them if they are Catholics and they say 'yes.' Ask them if they believe in transubstantiation, papal authority, birth control, etc., all say 'no' at least to some of these and other key issues. As one friend put it: I consider myself Catholic, but the Pope would not.This says simply and clearly all that needs to be said on the WHY I AM A CATHOLIC. In this book GW says much more than needs saying, unlike many of his other books such as BARE RUINED CHOIRS and NIXON AGONISTES.

'Progressive' or 'liberal' Catholics, 'traditional' or 'conservative' Catholics , ones who have feet in both camps (like myself), and non-Catholics who may just be curious about what it is that we Catholics are and how we came to be that way (and how we may quarrel at the dinner table but we all share the same food), should all read this book with an open and respectful mind.