 Trade In this Item for up to £2.25
Trade in Catholic Voices: Putting the Case for the Church in the Era of 24-Hour News for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £2.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
Product Description
Catholic Voices is a new sort of apologetics. It is based on the briefings by media experts that equipped the team of ordinary Catholics whose presence in the media helped make the visit of Pope Benedict to the UK in September 2010 such an extraordinary PR success for the Church, against all expectations. But Catholic Voices not only prepares the reader for media interviews but to be ready to defend their faith from attack by friends or colleagues at work. It combines arguments and facts with practical media skills, hearing the question behind the question and listening for the positive intention behind the criticisms. It gives insider tips on how to present arguments clearly, compellingly and concisely in a quick-fire atmosphere. It is aimed not just at those speaking into a microphone, but at the parish priest, pastoral assistant, catechist, teacher, student every Catholic who is willing to answer questions on topics in the news and give the reasons for what we believe .
About the Author
Austen Ivereigh is a former public affairs director for the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, a writer and journalist, a regular contributor to the Guardian and America magazine who appears regularly as a commentator on the Catholic Church for radio and TV news programmes. Kathleen Griffin is an award-winning broadcaster, writer and senior lecturer in Broadcast Media at the University of Brighton. For many years a producer and reporter for BBC Radio 4, her many books include The Forgiveness Formula.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Since 9/11, the role of religion in the modern world has become a matter of intense debate. Concerns about the rise of religious fundamentalism has led to the rise of the New Atheism movement, characterised not so much by its positive view of atheism as by its strong (some might say fanatical) anti-theism. The Catholic Church has often been the special target for the scorn and contempt of New Atheists, and such a critical view of Catholicism has spread to wider sections of the general public as a result of the child abuse scandal, and the perception that the Church is opposed to effective action against the spread of AIDS in Africa, as well as the view that the Church is, for outdated reasons, in favour of discrimination against gay people and cohabiting couples on issues such as adoption.
This book, arising out of a desire to ensure that Catholic perspectives were fairly represented in the mass media prior to and during the visit of Pope Benedict to Britain in 2010, is a corrective to such views. It deals with nine key issues: the Church's involvement in politics; homosexuality and contraception (considered together since they both concern the purpose and morality of sex); equality and religious freedom (concerning, among other issues, the status of Catholic adoption agencies); euthanasia and assisted suicide; clerical sex abuse; the stautus of religious (Catholic) schools; defending the unborn; Catholics and AIDS; and Catholic policy towards Protestant clergymen wishing to convert.
In dealing with each issue, the authors recognise the degree to which, at root, Catholics and their critics share a common moral base. The Catholic position is then developed. When dealing with the issue of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, it is pointed out, with evidence, that extensive condom use has coexisted with rising levels of AIDS, that this is partly because AIDS derives from a different pattern of behaviour in Africa compared to Europe - typically, multiple long-term sexual partners among heterosexuals, rather than casual gay sex - and that whilst condoms are effective at reducing transmissions amongst high-risk groups such as prostitutes, the most effective way of combatting AIDS among most groups is behavioural change. This is why the relationship between the proportion of Catholics in an African nation and its level of AIDS tends to be an inverse one. The Catholic Church is also a huge figure in sub-Saharan Africa in the teaching of HIV prevention, and in helping those with AIDS.
Not all Catholics will agree with every official Church policy explained in this book, nor can it be guaranteed to change the minds of the Church's fiercest critics (and will certainly have no effect at all on the New Atheists - but what will?), but for those who suspect that the causual secular liberal assumptions transmitted in the mass media just might oversimplify and distort the issues somewhat, this book will provide food for thought.
This book, arising out of a desire to ensure that Catholic perspectives were fairly represented in the mass media prior to and during the visit of Pope Benedict to Britain in 2010, is a corrective to such views. It deals with nine key issues: the Church's involvement in politics; homosexuality and contraception (considered together since they both concern the purpose and morality of sex); equality and religious freedom (concerning, among other issues, the status of Catholic adoption agencies); euthanasia and assisted suicide; clerical sex abuse; the stautus of religious (Catholic) schools; defending the unborn; Catholics and AIDS; and Catholic policy towards Protestant clergymen wishing to convert.
In dealing with each issue, the authors recognise the degree to which, at root, Catholics and their critics share a common moral base. The Catholic position is then developed. When dealing with the issue of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, it is pointed out, with evidence, that extensive condom use has coexisted with rising levels of AIDS, that this is partly because AIDS derives from a different pattern of behaviour in Africa compared to Europe - typically, multiple long-term sexual partners among heterosexuals, rather than casual gay sex - and that whilst condoms are effective at reducing transmissions amongst high-risk groups such as prostitutes, the most effective way of combatting AIDS among most groups is behavioural change. This is why the relationship between the proportion of Catholics in an African nation and its level of AIDS tends to be an inverse one. The Catholic Church is also a huge figure in sub-Saharan Africa in the teaching of HIV prevention, and in helping those with AIDS.
Not all Catholics will agree with every official Church policy explained in this book, nor can it be guaranteed to change the minds of the Church's fiercest critics (and will certainly have no effect at all on the New Atheists - but what will?), but for those who suspect that the causual secular liberal assumptions transmitted in the mass media just might oversimplify and distort the issues somewhat, this book will provide food for thought.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This is simply the best take on modern Catholic apologetics that you will read - it wraps the timeless mind of The Church in the garments of today's language and concerns.
It is direct but considered, succinct yet steeped in historical and theological support and each chapter simply flows off the pages. The good that it's going to do is easy to see. As a resource it may well become the model for other dioceses and provinces to follow and develop, in languages other than English. If so, let's hope they have plans to reprint, as their readers are bound to make the first print run a sell-out.
It is direct but considered, succinct yet steeped in historical and theological support and each chapter simply flows off the pages. The good that it's going to do is easy to see. As a resource it may well become the model for other dioceses and provinces to follow and develop, in languages other than English. If so, let's hope they have plans to reprint, as their readers are bound to make the first print run a sell-out.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This is a `monumental little book' which expresses with unusual clarity the views of the Catholic Church in some social areas of debate, controversy or current social policy agenda particularly in the UK environment. For Catholic people willing to get help and advice on how to position these topics, this is a great point of reference and advise. The book will not give them a menu of what to say but presents with extraordinary clarity the Catholic positions which very often Catholic people themselves may find difficult to articulate. For non Catholics wishing to understand those positions, this is also a great source, particularly if one has an open mind and is willing to discover how much of the traditional social teaching of the Catholic Church may have been misunderstood. The authors are leaders of the Catholic Voices initiative (likely to become `a movement' in its own right) which was self-generated by a group of people in advance of the Pope's visit to the UK about one year ago. As a result of their success in the articulation of messages and the interaction with the media, this `little' book has now come up. Aside from their role at that historical event, for which they were preparing `media-friendly, camera-ready, ego-free' Catholics able to discuss Catholic matters in a 24/7 media environment, they have done a great job in the articulation of the `Catholic logic' in areas such as homosexuality and contraception, defending the unborn, or Catholics and AIDS, to name some of the chapters of the book. It is fresh air in a world of gratuitous confrontation and fundamentalism of any kind, including the so called `humanism' which is unfortunately often shown in the UK as `angrily inhuman'. In this Street-Theology for Non Theologians (than includes a few million like me) one can learn the Catholic position as a sort of fast-track that is very enjoyable to read. My only wish is that the Second edition (it must have one...) is slightly less British-centric and extends the invaluable help beyond the today inevitable borders of the current edition, given the history behind the production.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
questions teenagers need answers to
Catholic Voices: Putting the Case for the Church in the Era of 24-Hour News
This excellent book offers a way in to a range of topical issues for parents, young adults or... Read more
This excellent book offers a way in to a range of topical issues for parents, young adults or... Read more
Published 1 month ago by mrs c.rodger
Wow - very useful
Ever felt on the back foot about bring a Catholic or just wondered why the Church takes a certain position? Great book for everyone. Even helps you brush up on your own beliefs! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Artmarkit
Superb!
This is a fantastic book. It is written clearly and concisely looking at all the relevant issues. Also with great quotes. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Francis T
Concise, good read
Book provides a great section on the mechanisms of debate and discussion and the art of presenting views in a way that is heard by the listener, before exploring a well-selected... Read more
Published 7 months ago by amt
Not a "silver bullet" - but....
Maybe not the "silver bullet" to help you win every bar room debate, but this little book is a gem if you want to avoid feeling threatened, or worse still, getting cross when... Read more
Published 7 months ago by John O'Brien
Very good indeed
Although I have only read half this book so far I would already like to express my unbounded enthusiasm: it certainly replaces Kreeft & Tacelli as the ready reference volume for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by MediaMan
A brilliant book, thoroughly recommended
The book, like the project that spawned it, is a thoroughly clear and thoughtful guide which I'm sure will be a vital tool for any Catholics who want to learn more about how to put... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jack Regan
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
