| Catholic Bishops in American Politics Subjects: Catholic Church -- United States -- Bishops -- History -- 20th century; Catholic Church -- United States -- Political activity; United States -- Church history -- 20th century; United States -- Politics and government -- 1977–; United States -- Politics a; Over the past twenty years the American Catholic bishops have played a leading role in the antiabortion movement, published lengthy and highly detailed pastoral letters on nuclear weapons and on the American economy, and involved themselves, collectively and individually, in several national election campaigns. What is the source of the sometimes controversial political role of these religious leaders? Timothy Byrnes proposes a new answer in this lucid description of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and its activities. He demonstrates that the key to the political role of the bishops and other modern American religious leaders has been political change, rather than religious revival. |