The Protestant Reformation and Catholic Publishing: A Framework for Contemporary Understanding

Abstract

Drawing from the perspective of an interdisciplinary exploration of the sociocultural impact of the printing press and its effects on Catholic thinkers, educators, and worship practices, the author of this article explores the educational mission of Catholic publishing during the Reformation and how it has evolved in modern times. First, the author discusses the communication dynamics of the Reformation and specifically the impact of the printing press. Second, the author explores the historical reasons for why the Roman Church perceived the need for uniformity in worship. Third, the author focuses on how the Roman Church built upon this framework of uniformity to define and shape the issues that were being discussed when expanding their outreach to the public during this period. Fourth, the author shows how Catholic worship and education evolved within an interpretation that is relevant to the educational mission of Catholic publishers today.

KEYWORDS:

• media, religion, social negotiations, political transformation, mass communication, religious transformation

Acknowledgments

© Karen F. Scialabba

Notes

1. The Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press is dedicated to expanding the ability to communicate and to finding ways to enable each person to speak for himself or herself instead of being the passive recipients of information chosen by the few and distributed one-way. This analysis produces a new philosophy of communication, one that is gentle and peaceful, respectful of all people, and politically equal—three requirements for an analysis to be feminist.