THEY CALL US DEAD MEN

Father Berrigan posses an acutely critical sense of awareness of human needs and human trends, a talent complementary to his skill as a poet. That supernumerary talent has been put to good use in these essays on the human aspects of the Church in . In his discussions of such issues as poverty in the Church, marriage, the and the laity, man and the spirit of technology, and new forms of faith, the constantly emphasizes one basic fact, a Pauline fact: the Church is a community service to man, and the degree to which it may be judged to be ""right"" or ""wrong"" proportionate to the degree to which it may be judged to serve humanity. The Church, in other words, must follow ""the sublime example of a Lord who binds up and saves, who has poured himself out, taking the form of a servant."" That message, is as old as Christianity; yet, rarely has it been announced with such , literary skill, and awareness of implications as in these essays. This work to highly recommended to every Catholic -- indeed, to every human -- who has wondered religion can be relevant in the modern world.