"I think American Catholicism is in great shape," said Father Theodore Hesburgh, president of the University of Notre Dame, last week. Hesburgh cited the church's "openness, its general thrust of concern about deep social problems," as reason for optimism. "I know the list of issues, " he added, referring to church division over abortion, contraception, unmarried clergy. "These are not what 90% of the Catholics are concerned about." Many American Catholics do not agree. The Roman Catholic Church, especially in the U.S., is living through trying times. Last week TIME asked a number...
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