"[An] engaging book.there is a lot of interesting material in this study. The book will animate discussion among students, scholars, and others interested in Catholicism, religion more generally, American culture, and the life course, as well as among Catholic church planners and educators."--American Journal of Sociology "[A] major work on an important subject" - Publishers Weekly "Pastoral leaders cannot effectively navigate in our ministry if we don't understand the territory-and the Catholic territory is increasingly complex! Young Catholic America provides an in-depth analysis of emerging adults in, out of, and gone from the Church, building on the research from the National Study of Youth and Religion. Describing the incredible diversity within American Catholicism, acknowledging the challenge of even defining 'Catholic,' and identifying critical impacts on faith, this is an invaluable resource for pastoral ministers." --Robert J. McCarty, D.Min.

, Executive Director, National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry "Young Catholic America is the definitive statement of Catholicism's challenges. Parents, schools, and parishes are as crucial as ever, but each is weaker than it was fifty years ago. Unable to go back to the way it was or forward the way it is, the Church stands at a crossroads." --Michael Hout, Professor of Sociology, New York University "Christian Smith and co-authors Kyle Longest, Jonathan Hill, and Kari Christoffersen have carried out the most in-depth study yet of emerging young Catholic adults. An important and highly relevant book." --William V. D'Antonio, Senior Fellow, Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, Catholic University.