New book explores how Catholic parishes contribute to polarization | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame






	
	





  	Skip To Content
	Skip To Navigation
	Skip To Search






  
  
    University of Notre Dame

    
      
      Notre Dame News

      
      
    


    
    
      
        
        
        	
	Experts
	ND in the News
	Subscribe
	About Us
	


      
        
          
          
          
          
          
        

      


      
    


    
    
      	 Home
	 Contact
	 Search
	
          
          
            
            
          
          Menu
        
        


      
        
          
          
          
          
          
        

      

    

  

  
  

  

  
    	Home › 
	News › 
	New book explores how Catholic parishes contribute to polarization


    
      
        
          New book explores how Catholic parishes contribute to polarization

          
            
              
                
                Published: May 29, 2013
              

              
                Author: Brittany Collins
              

              







          

          
          
          

          
        
        
        
          

Same-sex marriage, abortion and other cultural conflicts centered on the family have intensified in recent years, particularly among American Catholics. These same conflicts also are widely believed to form the basis for much of the moral polarization in public politics among Americans in general.

A new book by Mary Ellen Konieczny, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame, examines how religion and family life are intertwined and how local parishes shape that intersection.



In “The Spirit’s Tether: Family, Work, and Religion Among American Catholics,” published by Oxford University Press and available in August, Konieczny examines how and why Catholics are divided around these conflicts and argues that local parishes contribute to polarization through practices that unintentionally fragment the Catholic tradition.

By presenting a detailed analysis of the families and local religious cultures in two Catholic parishes — one conservative and the other progressive — “The Spirit’s Tether” reveals through the activities and faith stories of parishioners how their respective parishes shape the ways they approach the routines of family life as well as the ways they connect these everyday challenges to public politics.

Konieczny’s areas of research include religion in family life and religion in democracy.

Contact: Mary Ellen Konieczny, 574-631-2781, MaryEllen.Konieczny.1@nd.edu

        

        
        
          
            
              Posted In:

              	Research


            

            

          

        
      
      
    
  
  
    	Home
	Experts
	ND in the News
	Subscribe
	About Us


  

  
  
    
      
      
      
        
          Related

          
            

    
        
    

  
    
      

      

      




October 05, 2022

    
    
      Astrophysicists find evidence for the presence of the first stars
    

  


    
        
    

  
    
      

      

      


October 04, 2022

    
    
      NIH awards $4 million grant to psychologists researching suicide prevention
    

  


    
        
    

  
    
      

      

      


September 29, 2022

    
    
      Notre Dame, Ukrainian Catholic University launch three new research grants
    

  


    
        
    

  
    
      

      

      


September 27, 2022

    
    
      Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin engineers join to advance novel treatment for cystic fibrosis
    

  


    
        
    

  
    
      

      

      


September 22, 2022

    
    
      Climate-prepared countries are losing ground, latest ND-GAIN index shows
    

  

          
        
    
     
  
  

  
  
    
      	For the Media
	Contact


    
            
    
      
	Office of Public Affairs and Communications


      Notre Dame News

      
        
          
            500 Grace Hall
 
            Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
          
          
          
          
        

        
          	 Facebook
	 Twitter
	 Instagram
	 YouTube
	 Pinterest


        
      

      
© 2022 University of Notre Dame

    
    
      

        
      
      
        
          	Search
	Mobile App
	News
	Events
	Visit
	Accessibility


        
        
          	 Facebook
	 Twitter
	 Instagram
	 YouTube
	 LinkedIn