I’ve just gotten off the phone to the Central Catholic Bookshop (their motto is “faithfully expressing the Catholic Tradition”, which I like. I’ve gone off John Garrett’s since they published and promoted +Geoffrey’s book) and they have a copy of Cardinal Schönborn’s new book “Chance or Purpose: Creation, Evolution, and a Rational Faith” winging its way to me right now. It promises to a great read.
Regular readers will know that I have been a Schönborn fan for some time. I believe this book is a translation of (or an adaption of) the series of catecheses he gave in St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna over the last few years. It will be good stuff. Get it while its hot!
Sounds interesting. Let’s send a copy each to Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. :-)
BTW, I was once disappointed to find that that bookshop (is that the one right outside St. Francis Church on Elizabeth st?) was selling the gnostic Gospel of Thomas, without any label that identifies what the reader is to expect. I wasn’t sure who to approach so I just mentioned it to the front desk. I don’t know if they have a committee from the parish that reviews which books to sell, but I sure hope so, and I hope that it was one of those rare slips. :-)
Sounds interesting. Let’s send a copy each to Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. :-)
BTW, I was once disappointed to find that that bookshop (is that the one right outside St. Francis Church on Elizabeth st?) was selling the gnostic Gospel of Thomas, without any label that identifies what the reader is to expect. I wasn’t sure who to approach so I just mentioned it to the front desk. I don’t know if they have a committee from the parish that reviews which books to sell, but I sure hope so, and I hope that it was one of those rare slips. :-)
The Central Catholic Bookshop is actually owned and run by the Archdiocese, so this is a legitimate complaint. How long ago did this happen? It has changed its character a little over the years, and I find it to be excellent generally speaking these days. Of course, books like the Gospel of Thomas have to be available for scholars (not necessarily in the official bookshop, of course), since it is of interest in matters of biblical scholarship. But it all depends on how it is marketed and displayed. For instance, if it was in a section titled “Rotten Heresies to be Abjured” then I don’t think we could complain too much!
About four years ago Central Catholic Bookshop also sold, and maybe still do, a study bible with an imprimatur from the Phillipines Bishops’ Commission whose notes were very slyly anti-Church. One comment I remember was that the Song of Songs could be interpreted as Mary Magdalene’s love for Jesus.
John Garrett Bookroom also promotes Catholicism by Richard McBrien and Paul Collins’ books.
John XXXIII Fellowship can be depended on to only sell orthodox books. http://www.j23.com.au
That’s true, JXXXII does stock only “orthodox” books–and that is a part of their charm. Me, I like my bookshops a little more eclectic (I think I can trust myself to buy only good books!) and with a wider range. I think there is a world of difference between the books that are stocked, and the books that are publicised and pushed. I am sure you could buy Robinson’s book, for eg., from Central Catholic Bookshop–but they aren’t promoting it. That’s the difference.
Regular readers will know that I have been a Schönborn fan for some time.
Ich auch, ich auch !!
I’ll put it right on my reading list. Now, if I could find the time to finish reading Jesus of Nazareth, arrghh.
Bookstore abuse!
I got my first copy of the Little Catechism in a Mennonite bookstore, to go along with the one I got for a Lutheran seminarian friend of mine who couldn’t find it in his now-ELCA seminary.
Came in handy a couple of decades later.
Got a copy of the Clementine Vulgate in the same store — couldn’t find it in the “Catholic” bookstores! Dutch Catechism, Kueng, McBrien and Powell selling like hotcakes though.
I’ll take Schoenberg over Schoenborn, sorry about the bleeding umlauts, on the Viennese side of things. On the other hand, forget them both, where’s my Der Rosenkavalier!