About This Issue
Even though our readers will not receive this issue of American Catholic Studies until January 2006, we are rushing to have volume 116, number 4 ready to go to the printer before Christmas. Those of you who are employed by colleges and universities know very well how frantic life is at this time of the year. In addition, to all of the holiday "chores," we grade, read, grade some more, get ready for the next semester, grade again – and get this issue to the printer.
We do hope that you enjoy this issue of American Catholic Studies. Mary Henold's (Roanoke College) article, "'A Matter of Conversion': American Catholic Feminism in Transition, 1975-1978," is a scholarly look at American Catholic feminists during the mid-1970s. In addition to organizing the first and second women's ordination conferences during this time, Catholic feminists were working hard to end sexism and develop feminist theology. In 1977, they were also faced with the Vatican's Declaration on women's ordination. Satish Joseph, C.Ss.R. (University of Dayton) examines the role of Cincinnati's Father Edward Purcell in the American Catholic discussion of slavery. As editor of the Catholic Telegraph, Purcell was able to be a Catholic public voice arguing for the emancipation of American slaves. Scott Wright (St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota) examines the role of The Northwestern Chronicle in the Spanish-American War. Wright notes that one reason the newspaper took a strong pro-war position was to prove Catholic loyalty to the United States and its policies.
Make sure to check out the book reviews in this issue; we think you will enjoy them.
Our cover essay was written by Sister Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC, a member of the Committee on Publication and a past president of the American Catholic Historical Society. The subject of the essay is America's first citizen-saint, Frances Xavier Cabrini. We congratulate the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the 150th anniversary of their foundation; and we offer special congratulations to Sister Mary Louise (who has been a great friend to American Catholic Studies, by the way) on her fiftieth jubilee as an MSC.
We wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous 2006!
Margaret McGuinness, Co-editor