The book is among the first social scientific studies of liturgical change in the Catholic Church. The analysis is guided by a consistent theory of policy implementation, and it uses first-hand empirical data to ground its assessment and conclusions.

The Constitution of Sacred Liturgy is widely regarded as the most significant among the sixteen documents produced by the Second Vatican Council. The constitution has radically redefined the methods and meanings of Catholic worship, including a shift from rote enactment of rituals, to the laity as a spiritual community. Transforming Catholicism offers the first social scientific analysis of these liturgical changes in worship and their implementations in local situations. Guided by a consistent theory of policy implementation, Michael J. McCallion and David R. Maines examine the growing...