"Franco Garelli's Catholicism in Italy in the Age of Pluralism makes a powerful statement about the new public role played by religions in the twenty-first century. Challenging the conventional separation between religion and politics, it shows how religion can continue to inspire common values in the midst of diversity and personal identity in uncertain times. Its analysis of the new public importance of Catholicism in Italy in an age of growing pluralism is both scholarly and humane. This is a wide-ranging book that will command the attention of social scientists and religious thinkers alike."---James A. Beckford, University of WarwickReligious pluralism is increasing due to progressively more culturally interactive societies and an escalating exchange of immigrants. Nevertheless, as this book shows, the situation in Italy is characterized by several distinct features. Statistically, the level of religiosity is noticeably higher than in other European countries, and the majority of the population declares itself Catholic. Within the Catholic world, however, there are distinct differences in the ways and forms of believing, ranging from the convinced and active faithful to the "occasional" believer, or the development of new forms of "Catholic." Catholic sentiment endures, although many believers may not agree with the ethical inclinations of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The Church and Catholic groups have reinforced their presence in the public sphere by participating in a variely of campaigns to reassert Christian values on fundamental issues for civil harmony, moving at various levels in order to keep the nation closely tied to Catholic culture---a commitment which is both applauded and criticized. In the secular world, many criticize the Catholic presence for acting as a lobby in Italian society, accusing the Italian Church of excessive alignment with the dictates issued by the Vatican.The particularity of the Italian case poses unique questions to those who study social phenomena, and Franco Garelli sets out to answer them in this enlightening book that examines the influence of the Catholic Church in Italy. He poses such questions as: Why is the Catholic Church in Italy experiencing a period of such vitality in the public sphere? How can this situation be reconciled with the undisputed advance of secularization? And what kind of organizational problems does the assertive dynamism of Italian Catholicism pose in a pluralistic society? Read Less