This book offers a comprehensive examination of the generations of women who entered religious life in the Catholic Church in the United States after 1965 It provides up to date demographics for women s religious institutes an analysis of Church documents on religious life a summary of canon law locating religious life within the various forms of life in the Church and data on the views of post Vatican II entrants regarding ministry identity prayer spirituality the vows and community Beginning each chapter with an engaging narrative the authors explore how different generations of Catholic women first became attracted to vowed religious life and what kinds of religious institutes they were seeking By analyzing the results of extensive national surveys the authors systematically examine how the new generations of Sisters differ from previous ones and what those changes suggest about the future The book concludes with recommendations for further understanding of generations within religious life and within the Church and society Because of its breadth and depth this book will be regarded by scholars the media and practitioners as an essential resource for the sociological study of religious life for women in the United States New Generations of Catholic Sisters The Challenge of Diversity
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