American Parishes

Gary J. Adler, Jr. (Edited By)Gary J. Adler, Jr. is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Pennsylvania State University.Tricia C. Bruce (Edited By)Tricia C. Bruce is Associate Professor of Sociology at Maryville College and the University of Texas at San Antonio.Brian Starks (Edited By)Brian Starks is Associate Professor of Sociology at Kennesaw State University.

Between individual Catholics and a global institution, thousands of local parishes remake Catholicism each day. With fresh data and sociological methods, this book shows how parishes are shaped by community, geography, and authority; how parishes respond to diversity and change; and how parishes worship and educate for the future of Catholicism.

Introduction: What Is a Parish? Why Look at Catholic Parishes?Gary J. Adler Jr., Tricia C. Bruce, and Brian Starks | 1Part I : Seeing Parishes Through a Sociological Lens1. A Brief History of the Sociology of Parishes in the United StatesTricia C. Bruce | 252. Studying Parishes: Lessons and New Directions from the Study of CongregationsNancy T. Ammerman | 47Part II: Parish Trends3. The Shifting Landscape of US Catholic Parishes, 1998-2012Gary J. Adler Jr. | 694. Stable Transformation: Catholic Parishioners in the United StatesMark M. Gray | 95Part III: Race, Class, and Diversity in Parish Life5. Power in the ParishBrett C. Hoover | 1116. Liturgy as Identity Work in Predominantly African American ParishesTia Noelle Pratt | 1327. A House DividedMary Jo Bane | 153Part IV: Young Catholics In (and Out) of Parishes8. Parishes as Homes and HubsKathleen Garces-Foley | 1739. Preparing to Say "I Do"Courtney Ann Irby | 196Part V : The Practice and Future of a Sociology of Catholic Parishes10. A Sociologist Looks at His Own Parish: A Conversation with John A. Coleman, SJJohn A. Coleman, SJ, with editors Gary J. Adler Jr., Tricia C. Bruce, and Brian Starks | 217Conclusion: Parishes as the Embedded Middle of American CatholicismGary J. Adler Jr., Tricia C. Bruce, and Brian Starks | 231Acknowledgments | 247List of Contributors | 249Index | 253