The New Anti-Catholicism

Anti-Catholicism has a long history in America. And as Philip Jenkins argues in The New Anti-Catholicism this virulent strain of hatred--once thought dead--is alive and well in our nation but few people seem to notice or care. 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 Roman Catholicism without fear of serious repercussions. Jenkins shines a light on anti-Catholic sentiment in American society and illuminates its causes looking closely at gay and feminist anti-Catholicism anti-Catholic rhetoric and imagery in the media and the anti-Catholicism of the academic world. For newspapers and newsmagazines for television news and in movies for major book publishers the Catholic Church has come to provide a grossly stereotyped public villain. Catholic opinions doctrines and individual leaders are frequently the butt of harsh satire. Indeed the notion that the church is a deadly enemy of women--the idea of Catholic misogyny--is commonly accepted in the news media and in popular culture says Jenkins. And the recent pedophile priest scandal he shows has revived many ancient anti-Catholic stereotypes. It was said that with the election of John F. Kennedy anti-Catholicism in America was dead. This provocative new book corrects that illusion drawing attention to this important issue.