Details

Peek into the future of the Catholic Church with leading ecclesiology professor and author, Rev. Thomas P. Rausch.

With the birth of the twenty-first century, the Catholic Church was thrust into its third millennium. It is the world's oldest institution, with a remarkable continuity of governance, structure, and faith. But the centuries have brought exciting developments in each of these areas. Catholicism remains a living tradition, and this course explores the likely future of that tradition.

The Second Vatican Council, bringing some 2,600 of the Church's bishops to Rome, brought about a profound rethinking of its identity, its life, and its relation to other Christian churches and non-Christian religious communities. In a very real sense, it brought the Catholic Church into the modern world, and the changes it introduced into Catholic life, not without controversy, are still being felt. Thus this series of talks is an introduction to Catholicism in the twenty-first century.

With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed Electronic Study Guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this Electronic Study Guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this Electronic Study Guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link, or type it into your browser, to access the file.

About Your Presenter

Father Thomas P. Rausch, Ph.D., Duke, 1976, is the T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. A specialist in ecclesiology, Christology, and ecumenism, he has published seventeen books and over 220 articles and reviews, including Towards a Truly Catholic Church (2005), Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice (2006), and Pope Benedict XVI: An Introduction to his Theological Vision (2009). Four times his work has been recognized by the Catholic Press Association. He is a member of the Anglican/Roman Catholic Consultation USA, co-chairs the Los Angeles Catholic/Evangelical Committee and the Theological Commission for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Topic Titles

• Catholicism: An Overview
• The Second Vatican Council: Its Achievements and Legacy
• Jesus and his Disciples
• The Risen Lord and the Church
• A Living Tradition
• The Sacraments and their Meaning
• Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist
• Vocation and Ministry: Life in Christ takes many Forms
• Sin, Forgiveness and Healing Prayer and Spirituality
• The Ecumenical Movement
• A Brief Look Ahead