The New Anti-Catholicism

The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice

Paperback cover
Oxford University Press
ISBN 0-19-515480-0

Author| Philip Jenkins
Language| English
Subject| History, Religion, Anti-Catholicism/United States
Publisher| Oxford University Press

Publication date

| April 17, 2003
Publication place| United States
Media type| Hardcover, Paperback
Pages| 258 pages (1st edition, hardcover)
ISBN| 0-19-515480-0 (1st edition, hardcover)
OCLC| 50410476

Dewey Decimal

| 305.6/2073 21
LC Class| BX1770 .J46 2003

The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice is a book written by Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History and Religious studies at Pennsylvania State University, dealing with contemporary anti-Catholic bigotry, particularly in the United States.

Jenkins, a former Catholic who converted to the Episcopal Church in 1980,[1] argues that bigotry and hatred toward Catholics is not a thing of the past, but rather is still thriving in the U.S.[2] In Jenkins's view it is a form of bigotry that is ignored or even accepted or encouraged in quarters (mainly politically and culturally liberal ones) that would not tolerate most other forms of bigotry.[2]

A statement that is seen as racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, or homophobic can haunt a speaker for years, writes Jenkins, but it is still possible to make hostile and vituperative public statements about Catholicism without fear of serious repercussions.

## Reception

[edit]

The Washington Post review called it "A provocative brief on some of the uglier prejudices lurking behind today's Catholic controversies."[3] The National Catholic Register, calling Jenkins "the foremost historian of religious trends today", reviewed the book favorably, noting that the issues are particularly topical today.[4] The Tablet, a British Catholic publication, in its review, while admitting that the book raised important issues, accused Jenkins of lacking a sense of humor.[5] In 2009, National Review suggested that the author ought to consider publishing an updated version in light of recent incidents of anti-Catholicism.[6] The Baltimore Sun called it "a book of powerfully convincing fairness, of impressive scholarship and of extraordinary courage – Jenkins strips naked some of the most cherished hypocrisies of American ideologues from one extreme of the spectrum to the other."[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jenkins, Philip (2003). "Preface". The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice. p. vii. ISBN 0195154800..
2. ^ a b The New Anti-Catholicism, About This Book Google Books, book description. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
3. ^ Bauman, Paul, Grace Under Pressure, p BW03, Washington Post (Book World), June 1, 2003. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
4. ^ McCloskey, John, Christianity Tomorrow, National Catholic Register, May 2004. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
5. ^ Stanford, Peter, Criticism can be justified Archived 2012-07-01 at archive.today, The Tablet, 17 October 2003. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
6. ^ Berg, Thomas & Michael Augros, Don’t Know Nothing: A frontal attack on the Catholic Church aims at religious liberty in general, National Review, March 26, 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
7. ^ Pakenham, Michael, Anti-Catholicism in the U.S.: A hate much loved and lied about Baltimore Sun, May 11, 2003. Retrieved 2011-07-22.

## External links

[edit]

* List of book reviews, including The New Anti-Catholicism hosted at Philip Jenkins' Penn State webpage. Accessed 2011-07-22.

*[OCLC]: Online Computer Library Center number
*[LC Class]: Library of Congress Classification