Includes bibliographical references and index. Electronic reproduction. Palo Alto, Calif. : ebrary, 2009. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ebrary affiliated libraries.

Vatican II and contemporary politics / Kenneth R. Himes -- The Vatican as a transnational actor / Lisa L. Ferrari -- The Latin European Church: "une messe est possible" / Paul Christopher Manuel and Margaret MacLeish Mott -- The American Church: of being Catholic and American / Ted G. Jelen -- The Chilean Church: declining hegemony? / William Lies and Mary Fran T. Malone -- The Polish Church: Catholic hierarchy and Polish politics / Timothy A. Byrnes -- The Catholic Church in Ireland and Northern Ireland: nationalism, identity, and opposition / William Crotty -- The East Timorese Church: from oppression to liberation / Alynna J. Lyon -- The Brazilian Church: reintegrating ontology and epistemology / Christine A. Kearney -- The Rwandan Church: the challenge of reconciliation / Elis?ee Rutagambwa -- The Angolan Church: the prophetic tradition, politics, and the state / Linda Heywood -- The Indian Church: Catholicism and Indian nationhood / Mathew N. Schmalz -- The Chinese Catholic Church: obstacles to reconciliation / Lawrence C. Reardon -- The Congolese Church: ecclesial community within the political community / Yvon C. Elenga.