A fascinating discussion of church-terms that become slurs because of the pervasive anti-clericalism in once pervasively Catholic Quebec. If Martin Scorcese sets his next film in Montreal I think we can anticipate a strong reaction from the Catholic League. And given that Ireland and perhaps even New England have had their own "Quiet Revolution" in the past two decades, linguists might want to stay alert in Dublin and Providence.That said, I've just started reading a book that upends standard-issue discussions of Quebec's 1960s history. The argument, as the title suggests, is that frustration with Quebec Catholicism emerged within Catholic circles as much as from without.

John T. McGreevy is the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at the University of Notre Dame.

Also by this author
© 2024 Commonweal Magazine. All rights reserved. Design by Point Five. Site by Deck Fifty.