Author (Your Name)

Sleven W. Suomi, Colby College

Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Open Access)

Department

Colby College. Religious Studies Dept.

Advisor(s)

Debra Campbell

Second Advisor

Thomas R. W. Longstaff

Abstract

The final question is: what happens in the meantime? Is it effective to dissent while conservatives hold power and clearty are not about to make any major changes? What good does it do to repeatedly bang one's head against the wall when progress is not being made? There is no one simple answer to this question, but rather several applicable ones. The first possible answer is that dissent currently does little good. The conservative hierarchy is still the dominant force within Catholicism. This hierarchy has made a habit, evidenced by the birth control debate, of pressing its conservative agenda despite popular opposition. Many people think, that if this hierarchy has not given in to the mass of opinion against it yet, dissent is futile and useless. Why argue with someone who does not listen to your argument?

Keywords

dissent, Catholic Church, America

Included in

Religion Commons

Share

COinS