Alexandra Greenwald

Book review: Nicole Sotelo was inspired to write her booklet of "reflections, prayers and actions for healing" when a reader noted that forgiveness wasn't covered in her previous work on healing from abuse.

Interview with the author: "We must build a fusion coalition that unites people around common values. Our appeal can't be about right or left, but rather about right or wrong. We must come together on the firm ground of truth and lift this nation to higher ground."

Although survey respondents overwhelmingly described their Catholic identity as "extremely important," they described a lack of leadership opportunities, financial insecurity and clericalism as barriers to ministry.

Book Review: For editor Jessie Bazan, Dear Joan Chittister was an opportunity to share the sense of hope that women in the church were able to cultivate, despite the weight of the topics they discussed.

Book Reviews: Most are familiar with atheists, agnostics and, of course, the nones, the growing demographic that claims no religious affiliation. Each of these books seem to make a reasonable contribution to understandings of the variety of modes of unbelief.

In James Carroll's newest novel, The Cloister, the Catholic Church's relationship with the "other" is examined through parallel narratives that span centuries and continents. The author gave an email interview with NCR to discuss the novel, his 12th.

Book Review: In Living With the Living Dead, Greg Garrett dissects pop culture's zombie craze to see what spiritual and cultural needs such stories serve in times of upheaval.