This book investigates how the cultural shifts of the 1960s, catalyzed by the Second Vatican Council, fundamentally altered the identity and internal cohesion of the American Catholic Church. Mark S. Massa, a Jesuit scholar, utilizes historical analysis and sociological observation to examine the transition of the Church from a monolithic, traditional institution to a fractured body grappling with modernity. He argues that the decision to engage with contemporary culture initiated a permanent state of internal conflict that continues to define the American Catholic experience.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of modern American religious history, noting its ability to synthesize complex theological shifts into accessible prose. Readers frequently highlight the author's balanced approach to the tensions between liberal and conservative factions within the Church.