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{{short description|1972 novel by Brian Moore}}
{{for|the film|Catholics (film)}}
{{for|the film|Catholics (film)}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2016}}


{{Infobox book
{{Infobox book
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|oclc = 610037
|oclc = 610037
|pages = 102
|pages = 102
| preceded_by = [[The Revolution Script]] (1971)
| followed_by = [[The Great Victorian Collection]] (1975)
}}
}}
'''''Catholics''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Northern Irish]]-[[Canadians|Canadian]] writer [[Brian Moore (novelist)|Brian Moore]]. It was first published in 1972,<ref name="O'Donoghue"/> and was republished in 2006 by [[Loyola Press]] with an introduction by [[Robert Ellsberg]] and a series of study questions.
'''''Catholics''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Northern Irish]]-[[Canadians|Canadian]] writer [[Brian Moore (novelist)|Brian Moore]]. It was first published in 1972,<ref name="O'Donoghue"/> and was republished in 2006 by [[Loyola Press]] with an introduction by [[Robert Ellsberg]] and a series of study questions.
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Critic Jo O'Donoghue describes ''Catholics'' as "in some ways a paradoxical novel". Like Moore, Kinsella is "a sceptic who respects the beliefs of others but also ... a traditionalist in his attitude to the aesthetic and mystery of belief ...[which] will all be lost under the new dispensation". ''Catholics'', says O'Donoghue, "seems to envisage the ordinary Catholic, lay or clerical, merely exchanging a conservative hegemony for a liberal one. Both, ultimately, are equally tyrannical... In this novel, there is lacking that positive sense of the individual bearing witness to his faith... which emerges so strongly from ''Cold Heaven'', from ''[[Black Robe]]'' and from ''The Colour of Blood''".<ref name="O'Donoghue">{{cite book | title=Brian Moore: a critical study | url=https://archive.org/details/brianmoorecritic0000odon | url-access=registration | publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] | author=Jo O'Donoghue | year=1991 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/brianmoorecritic0000odon/page/142 142–3]|ISBN=0-7735-0850-3}}</ref>
Critic Jo O'Donoghue describes ''Catholics'' as "in some ways a paradoxical novel". Like Moore, Kinsella is "a sceptic who respects the beliefs of others but also ... a traditionalist in his attitude to the aesthetic and mystery of belief ...[which] will all be lost under the new dispensation". ''Catholics'', says O'Donoghue, "seems to envisage the ordinary Catholic, lay or clerical, merely exchanging a conservative hegemony for a liberal one. Both, ultimately, are equally tyrannical... In this novel, there is lacking that positive sense of the individual bearing witness to his faith... which emerges so strongly from ''Cold Heaven'', from ''[[Black Robe]]'' and from ''The Colour of Blood''".<ref name="O'Donoghue">{{cite book | title=Brian Moore: a critical study | url=https://archive.org/details/brianmoorecritic0000odon | url-access=registration | publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] | author=Jo O'Donoghue | year=1991 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/brianmoorecritic0000odon/page/142 142–3]|ISBN=0-7735-0850-3}}</ref>


==Movie version==
==Film ==
Moore also wrote the screenplay for the [[Catholics (film)|film version]] in 1973, which stars [[Trevor Howard]], [[Martin Sheen]], and [[Cyril Cusack]].
Moore also wrote the screenplay for the 1973 [[Catholics (ITV Sunday Night Theatre)|television film version]], which stars [[Trevor Howard]], [[Martin Sheen]], and [[Cyril Cusack]].


==Play==
==Theatrical adaptation==
Moore adapted his novel for the stage. The play premiered in [[Seattle]] at the [[ACT Theatre]] in May 1980.<ref name="ACT">{{cite web| url=http://www.acttheatre.org/About/ProductionHistory/MainstagePlays#1980| title=Mainstage Play Series: 1980| publisher=[[ACT Theatre]]| location=[[Seattle, Washington]]| work=Production history| accessdate=7 February 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210002940/http://www.acttheatre.org/About/ProductionHistory/MainstagePlays#1980| archive-date=10 February 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University of Washington]] has a copy of the playscript.[http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/view?docId=ContemporaryTheatreSeattleWash2118.xml] Gregory A. Falls directed<ref name="Next at ACT">{{cite web | url=http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/act_shows/1980/1980_Girls_program.pdf | title=Next at ACT | publisher=[[ACT Theatre]] | work=Theatre programme | location=[[Seattle, Washington]]| date=1980 | accessdate=7 February 2016 | pages=16}}</ref> a cast that included [[David Frederick White]] (as "Tomas O'Mallery"), [[Tony Amendola]] (as "Brother Kevin"), and [[John Aylward]] (as "Father Walter").
Moore adapted his novel for the stage. The play premiered in [[Seattle]] at the [[ACT Theatre]] in May 1980.<ref name="ACT">{{cite web| url=http://www.acttheatre.org/About/ProductionHistory/MainstagePlays#1980| title=Mainstage Play Series: 1980| publisher=[[ACT Theatre]]| location=[[Seattle, Washington]]| work=Production history| accessdate=7 February 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210002940/http://www.acttheatre.org/About/ProductionHistory/MainstagePlays#1980| archive-date=10 February 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University of Washington]] has a copy of the playscript.[http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/view?docId=ContemporaryTheatreSeattleWash2118.xml] Gregory A. Falls directed<ref name="Next at ACT">{{cite web | url=http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/act_shows/1980/1980_Girls_program.pdf | title=Next at ACT | publisher=[[ACT Theatre]] | work=Theatre programme | location=[[Seattle, Washington]]| date=1980 | accessdate=7 February 2016 | pages=16}}</ref> a cast that included [[David Frederick White]] (as "Tomas O'Mallery"), [[Tony Amendola]] (as "Brother Kevin"), and [[John Aylward]] (as "Father Walter").


==Criticisms==
==Criticisms==
The book has drawn criticism within [[Catholic]] circles for making the claim that it is possible for [[Catholic dogma]] to change, by portraying a fictional "Fourth Vatican Council" that has reversed the [[Catholic]] dogma of the [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist]]. This, being in conflict with the dogma of [[Infallibility]], has caused the book to be unofficially considered [[heretical]].
The book has drawn criticism within [[Catholic]] circles for making the claim that it is possible for [[Catholic dogma]] to change, by portraying a fictional "Fourth Vatican Council" that has reversed the [[Catholic]] dogma of the [[real presence of Christ in the Eucharist]]. This, being in conflict with the dogma of [[infallibility]], has caused the book to be unofficially considered [[heretical]].


In addition to this, several phrases within the book (and the later film) have been claimed to be comparable to rhetoric typical of a [[Sedevacantism|Sedevecantist]] sect, that is in [[schism]] with the [[Catholic Church]].
In addition to this, several phrases within the book (and the later film) have been claimed to be comparable to rhetoric typical of a [[Sedevacantism|Sedevecantist]] sect, that is in [[schism]] with the [[Catholic Church]].
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0069857|title=Catholics}}
*{{IMDb title|qid=Q5053337|title=Catholics}}
{{Brian Moore}}
{{Brian Moore}}


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[[Category:1972 British novels]]
[[Category:1972 British novels]]
[[Category:1972 Canadian novels]]
[[Category:1972 Canadian novels]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Canadian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Canadian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Canadian novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Canadian novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Canadian novels adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Catholic novels]]
[[Category:Catholic novels]]
[[Category:Irish novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Irish novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Irish novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Irish novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Irish novels adapted into television shows]]
⚫
[[Category:Jonathan Cape books]]
[[Category:McClelland & Stewart books]]
[[Category:McClelland & Stewart books]]
[[Category:Novels adapted into television programs]]
[[Category:Novels by Brian Moore (novelist)]]
[[Category:Novels by Brian Moore]]
[[Category:Novels set in Ireland]]
[[Category:Novels set in Ireland]]
[[Category:Novels set on islands]]
[[Category:Novels set on islands]]
⚫
[[Category:Jonathan Cape books]]

Latest revision as of 14:19, 5 June 2024

For the film, see Catholics (film).

Catholics
First edition cover
AuthorBrian Moore
LanguageEnglish
Publisher
Publication date
1972
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Pages102
ISBN0-224-00767-X
OCLC610037
Preceded byThe Revolution Script (1971) 
Followed byThe Great Victorian Collection (1975) 

Catholics is a novel by Northern Irish-Canadian writer Brian Moore. It was first published in 1972,[1] and was republished in 2006 by Loyola Press with an introduction by Robert Ellsberg and a series of study questions.

Plot

[edit]

Most of the action of the novel takes place on an island monastery off the southwest coast of Ireland. It is set in the future, near the end of the twentieth century after the Second Vatican Council. The story tells of a young priest sent by the authorities in Rome to fully implement Church reforms in an Irish monastery that still celebrates the Catholic liturgy according to older rites. The young priest, James Kinsella, is initially opposed by the Abbot of the monastery, who tries to preserve his and his monks' way of life. However, the Abbot eventually recognizes the need for—and inevitability of—change. The novel comes to a head when a confrontation between the Abbot and a senior monk, Matthew, nearly undermines the structure of the monastery. The Abbot is plagued by his own doubts in matters of faith. The novel ends on an ambiguous note as the Abbot prays for the first time in years, but in the face of the abandonment of their traditional way of life.

Reception

[edit]

Critic Jo O'Donoghue describes Catholics as "in some ways a paradoxical novel". Like Moore, Kinsella is "a sceptic who respects the beliefs of others but also ... a traditionalist in his attitude to the aesthetic and mystery of belief ...[which] will all be lost under the new dispensation". Catholics, says O'Donoghue, "seems to envisage the ordinary Catholic, lay or clerical, merely exchanging a conservative hegemony for a liberal one. Both, ultimately, are equally tyrannical... In this novel, there is lacking that positive sense of the individual bearing witness to his faith... which emerges so strongly from Cold Heaven, from Black Robe and from The Colour of Blood".[1]

Film

[edit]

Moore also wrote the screenplay for the 1973 television film version, which stars Trevor Howard, Martin Sheen, and Cyril Cusack.

Play

[edit]

Moore adapted his novel for the stage. The play premiered in Seattle at the ACT Theatre in May 1980.[2] The University of Washington has a copy of the playscript.[1] Gregory A. Falls directed[3] a cast that included David Frederick White (as "Tomas O'Mallery"), Tony Amendola (as "Brother Kevin"), and John Aylward (as "Father Walter").

Criticisms

[edit]

The book has drawn criticism within Catholic circles for making the claim that it is possible for Catholic dogma to change, by portraying a fictional "Fourth Vatican Council" that has reversed the Catholic dogma of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This, being in conflict with the dogma of infallibility, has caused the book to be unofficially considered heretical.

In addition to this, several phrases within the book (and the later film) have been claimed to be comparable to rhetoric typical of a Sedevecantist sect, that is in schism with the Catholic Church.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Jo O'Donoghue (1991). Brian Moore: a critical study. McGill-Queen's University Press. pp. 142–3. ISBN 0-7735-0850-3.
  2. ^ "Mainstage Play Series: 1980". Production history. Seattle, Washington: ACT Theatre. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Next at ACT" (PDF). Theatre programme. Seattle, Washington: ACT Theatre. 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
[edit]
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