Catholics: Britain's Largest Minority Book

In Catholics Sewell charts the rise of Catholicism in Britain from the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in the 19th century to its present status not only as a fashionable religion, but also as a significant cultural force. As a broadcaster Dennis Sewell has a gift for communication. As a cradle Catholic he knows the British Catholic Church from the inside. As a journalist he knows how to marshal the results of his research in an entertaining style. Graham Greene complained that Catholicism in Britain produced eccentrics when it should have produced revolutionaries. Sewell shows how there have been both. Courageous Catholics have been changing things slowly and subtly in favour of a more Christian culture. Sewell makes his point well. His section on Chesterton and Belloc is good, as is his coverage of Catholics in politics and journalism. The book is marred however by an unbalanced emphasis and a narrow vision. Sewell spends too much time on individuals and issues, and sometimes misses the big picture. He tries to show the growing cultural influence of Catholics, yet little is said of Catholics in music, the fine arts and academia. There is only passing reference to Catholics in television, film or popular writing. There are entertaining chapters on wonderfully eccentric Catholics, but scarcely a mention of the many Catholic charities and pressure groups, which are staffed by hard-working ordinary people. Like many books by journalists, this is an impressionistic work. It is sparkling and entertaining, very good in parts, but more an interesting overview than a comprehensive study. --Dwight LongeneckerRead More