Evangelical Catholicism

"Evangelical Catholicism is a remarkable intellectual and spiritual achievement, even by George Weigel's dauntingly high standards. It is nothing less than a blueprint for the re-evangelization of the West and the re-invigoration of the rest of the world."

"A learned and lucid commentator on Catholicism.... [Weigel] brings a keenly developed sense of the workings of the church to his analysis. But Evangelical Catholicism is a call to arms. Though written long before Benedict made his surprise announcement, the book is nonetheless a timely guide to the issues that the cardinals in conclave -- and the next pope -- must confront.... Evangelical Catholicism may provide a desperately needed vision of the future of the church, imbued with the extraordinary hope that has always been at the heart of the Catholic faith."

"[Weigel is] our greatest observer of the global Catholic Church.... If I could gain entrance into the conclave, I would smuggle in enough copies of Evangelical Catholicism to place one on the chair of each elector, in hopes that they would adopt this masterpiece of Catholic history and thought as a possible guide for the Church's mission in the centuries ahead."

"This sparkling read puts all the old Church-labels -- liberal vs. conservative, progressive vs. traditionalist, pre- vs. post-Vatican II -- in the shredder. Now there is only one valid adjective for all of us: evangelical! Simply put, this means we take our baptismal promises with the utmost seriousness. Like the Samaritan woman, we've met a man -- Jesus -- who has changed our lives."

"A laudable hunger to relight the Church's missionary fires is the core of Evangelical Catholicism, but good intentions need practical blueprints if they're going to work. George Weigel has gotten that conversation started in his typically lucid, provocative fashion, and we are all in his debt."

"A timely, accessible and unusually insightful work."

"Weigel at his astringent and prophetic best."

"Weigel at his best, situating our present moment within the context of the last century, and laying out an agenda for Catholic reform and mission in the future....This book deserves to be read by any serious thinking Christian."

"A serious and acute work.... Weigel's ability to combine the spiritual insights of a believer with the dispassionate analysis of a historian makes Evangelical Catholicism valuable for Catholics and non-Catholics, of all political persuasions, who care about the Church's future."

"An elegantly written manifesto."

"A call for pride, sincerity and depth in Catholic life and community.... The bulk of Weigel's book examines how this new Catholicism can be applied to the episcopate, priesthood, liturgy, laity, etc. The author makes many important points, and his call toward a deeper spirituality and sense of mission in Catholic life is laudable."

"A rare book that can transform culture and communities from the inside out, beginning with the humble premise of evangelization: to proclaim -- in word and deed -- the good news of Jesus Christ. No stone is unturned, no promise or issue within the Church and her members is ignored in this excellent, well-thought-out guide for reform-based evangelization."

"George Weigel has been the leading diarist of authentic Catholic renewal -- its progress, detours, personalities, and hopes -- for 30 years. In Evangelical Catholicism he turns his extraordinary skills to the needs of the Church in the coming decades, calling us back to the missionary vocation we received at baptism and offering us a road map to faithful, vigorous Church reform. Rich in its vision, engaging in style, on target in its counsel and invaluable for anyone trying to understand the Church and her challenges in the 21st Century, this book should not be missed."