Common Sense II: A Resource for Catholic Church Reform

This very short book is meant to evoke Tom Paine's original pamphlet called Common Sense that got the American Revolution started in 1776. It calls for changes in Church policy with regard to bishops, priests, and women. If Catholics are to be able to confront Church authorities to argue for these changes effectively, they will have to possess sufficient knowledge about the Church's origins and history. Accordingly, the book starts with the beginnings and history of ancient Israel and proceeds through the mission of Jesus of Nazareth and the development of the early Church. From there it reviews Church history through the middle ages and the subsequent times up to the present. It finishes with a description of the needed reforms and how the current practices are not supported by any valid historical, theological, or scientific bases.