THE CHURCH AND GOD'S PEOPLE

This is a treatise intended to show the relationship of the layman to the Church and society. The presentation, however, gets so involved in the theological concepts of the matter that it tends to lose its readers -- at least those who are only mildly interested to start with. The author argues that the theological development is necessary to understand the later chapters, but quite possibly only the deeply involved will stay with it that long. Tediously he elaborates on much of the obvious. Compared to The Mind of the Catholic Layman (reviewed on p. 1003 in this issue) this book is dull indeed. Even so, it does have the merit of bringing in the revelations resulting from the flood of information which has emerged from the Dead Sea caves. To this extent the book offers new insights into Biblical implications. But the layman will be just as unaware as before about where he fits into the Church.