In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

  • About This Issue
  • Thomas Rzeznik, Co-editor

Our lead article comes to us from J. Patrick Hornbeck, II (Fordham University), who explores the process of “deconversion” from Catholicism by looking at the history of the church’s relatively shortlived canonical procedures – in place between 1983 and 2010 – that allowed a formal act of defection. In surveying how U.S. Latin Rite dioceses responded to the requests of those who sought to use these procedures to sever their ties with the church, he argues that these acts of defection reflect a “dissonance between official teachings and the ordinary theology of many clergy and laypeople.”

Katharine Harmon (Marian University) next turns our attention to the mid-twentieth century liturgical movement and its efforts to advance social and theological renewal. She demonstrates how those involved in the movement viewed the liturgy as a pathway for conveying Mystical Body theology and sustaining Catholic Action. Their efforts to “re-vision” how the liturgy should be “taught and interpreted” speaks to the optimism of mid-century Catholicism and its members’ ability to draw upon the resources of the faith to address the challenges of the world.

By happy coincidence, our final two pieces both happen to deal with developments at the University of Notre Dame. The first, an article by Marion Casey (University College, University of Maryland), recovers the story of the “Minims,” the young boys in Notre Dame’s elementary division whose tuition revenue helped sustain the university for three quarters of a century.

It is joined by our cover essay by Andrew Mach (University of Notre Dame), which tells the history of one of the iconic images of the Civil War, the painting of Father William Corby’s granting of a general absolution to soldiers at Gettysburg. The work of Notre Dame student Paul Wood, the widely-reproduced Absolution Under Fire reflected Catholic efforts to integrate themselves into the story of the nation.

Finally, we express our gratitude and best wishes in his retirement, to John J. Mawhinney, SJ, who has served as Business Editor of the journal since 2004. We are pleased to welcome Brett Grainger as an Associate Editor. Brett, who specializes in the history of American Christianity, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova. We are delighted to benefit from his expertise and insights. [End Page i]

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