The response of the U.S. Catholic Church to modern city planning

This study investigates two facets of the Catholic Church's response to contemporary American urban planning. The recent teachings of the bishops responsible for the Catholic Church in the United States contain numerous references to planning. American and international Church statements between 1961 and 1981 were examined to identify all planning related passages. Various official national and diocesan activities, as well as efforts by quasi-official national organizations, have also occurred in the past twenty years. Interviews with persons having substantial responsibility for, involvement in, or knowledge of Church activities provided information in this second area of research. Selected activities are described in order to present a picture of the nature of the Church's involvement in city planning affairs.

Next, the Church's statements and activities are interpreted in terms of her various roles. The study closes by suggesting some possible explanations for the variety of Church responses, and by making recommendations for inproving the relationship between planning and the Church. The conclusion of the research is that the statements and current activities of the Church will provide a foundation for broader Church involvement in planning in the future.