I welcome Dennis Doyle’s update of his excellent text on the nature and mission of the Catholic Church today. He is right, a lot has happened during the pontificates of Benedict and Francis. Hence, the update of the second edition of his book. I have used his books in some of my classes at the University of Southern California, and students consistently find Doyle’s explanations clear and engaging.

At more than fifty years since Vatican II, ecclesiology is still the key issue to understand Catholicism in the global world of today. I highly recommend Dennis Doyle’s book on the ecclesiology of Vatican II—especially for those who want to connect the conciliar teaching, Pope Francis, and the issues facing the Church.

Dennis Doyle’s third edition of The Catholic Church in a Changing World: A Vatican II-Inspired Approach is a reflective study of Catholicism explained and Catholicism lived! The engaging anecdotal stories that begin each chapter connect the reader with the ever-evolving understanding and experience of Catholicism. Doyle taps into the rich heritage of the Church through the lens of the Second Vatican Council. Two indispensable documents of Vatican II, Lumen gentium and Gaudium et spes, provide the framework for examining the essential elements of the Tradition and the incredible impact the Council continues to have on the Church. Raised before the Council and then schooled as a theologian in light of Vatican II, Doyle brings a unique perspective to his reading of the Tradition. It is at once apparent that Doyle views his task as not only an academic examination of the Church, but a walk in faith that connects belief with life. This book includes a “live look” at the issues of today and demonstrates how the Spirit continues to move in the life of the Church.

Winsomely written, The Catholic Church in a Changing World analyzes contemporary Catholic teachings and practices in light of their historical roots. Accessible, accurate, and balanced, the book concentrates on what unites Catholics. Dennis Doyle presents the various positions on contemporary disputed questions clearly and fairly. Never presuming to resolve divisive issues, he shows what is at stake and leaves readers to reflect on their own responses. This book makes an excellent textbook for undergraduate courses in religion and for study groups.

This new edition of Dennis Doyle’s The Catholic Church in a Changing World, the fruit of long classroom experience, reflects on every page his deep conviction that to be an informed Catholic today one must not only live the fruits of the council but connect, in some deep way, with the entire witness to the church in space and time. That conviction is set forth with clear writing, wide learning, and a great spirit of Christian generosity.