The Good Enough Catholic
A Guide for the Perplexed

Paul Wilkes
354 pages
Ballantine Books, 1997
$15.00
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From the Publisher
While the numbers of Catholic faithful continue to grow, their faith in church authority wanes proportionally. Paul Wilkes, a devout Catholic himself and an accomplished writer, brings up the burning issues of the day and demonstrates that a sincere desire to participate in the rich spiritual tradition of Catholicism will not force one to surrender intellectual freedom. Moreover, and this is what really propels the book, Wilkes invites the reluctant or half-hearted faithful to embrace the fullness of the Catholic church, work through any intellectual discrepancies, and realize that to be a "good enough" Catholic is to be a very good human being.

Review
The Good Enough Catholic is like watching someone eat an iceberg with a spoon: do you focus upon how much remains to be done or marvel at the initiative being shown?

Paul Wilkes' latest book makes a real contribution to the maturation of thought about being an adult Catholic today. Referencing Church history until 1965, as well as language and spirit of Vatican II, Wilkes makes numerous comparisons between the formal positions of the current Church hierarchy and what he sees as the realistic positions of 'The Good Enough Catholic.'

Beginning with a review of how "The Good Enough Catholic" might view each of the seven sacraments, Wilkes moves to discussions of contemporary topics such as sexuality, marriage, and divorce. His underlying theme is that God does not expect perfection from each of us, but rather our best efforts.

Throughout the book, Wilkes skillfully avoids direct conflict with established Church positions. Yet his obvious belief that faith requires both acceptance and a continuing attempt to become personally responsible for one's spiritual growth is visible in each chapter. Equally obvious is his love for the Church. For traditionalists, The Good Enough Catholic might be uncomfortable, since well-reasoned (however faith-filled) questions are raised. Conversely, contemporary thinkers may wish the author could have gone further in developing the concept of 'The Good Enough Catholic.' Yet given the size of such a task, this book can well be viewed as a worthwhile effort to begin eating the iceberg.

Patrick McMahon, Ed.D. of Ada, Michigan, has been a consultant to the leaders of organizations for more than 20 years. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, and has provided assistance to religious organizations including Catholic dioceses, schools, and local parishes.

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