About This Issue

Our commitment to publishing only theme issues is not in accord with general book reviews. Also, because a theme issue requires six articles a separate section would overly extend the size of our journal. However, we have published the occasional symposium review of a book suitable to the topic or a special review of a book by one of our editors.

The title of this issue clearly represents a significant departure from publishing articles centered on a specific theme, i.e. “African Americans and their Church,” “Hispanic Catholicism,” or “Theology and History,” to four book reviews on each of the twelve books selected on the theme of American Catholic History. Readers will note the first review of each book summarizes it including the reviewer’s take on the book, followed by two critical reviews, and concluding with the author’s response to the reviews.

Because the names and academic residences of the reviewers and authors are clearly evident I will only remind our readers of the reviewers and authors who are Associate Editors of the U.S. Catholic Historian: Jeffrey M. Burns, Joseph P. Chinnici, OFM, William Dinges, Elizabeth McKeown, William L. Portier, and Joseph M. White. Reverend David J. Endres is Assistant Editor. To them and to all who contributed to this issue I extend our hearty gratitude!