"Much like the rest of the country, American Catholics are politically divided, perhaps more so now than at any point in their history. But Julie Hanlon Rubio suggests that there is a way beyond red versus blue for orthodox and progressive Catholics. In a call for believers on both sides of the liberal-conservative divide to put aside labels and rhetoric, Rubio demonstrates that common ground does exist in the local sphere between the personal and the political. Rubio draws on Catholic Social Thought to explore ways to bring Catholics together. Despite their differences, Catholics across the political spectrum can share responsibility for social sin and work within communities to contribute to social progress. She expands this common space into in-depth discussions on family fragility, poverty, abortion, and end-of-life care. These four issues, though divisive, are part of a seamless worldview that holds all human life as sacred. Rubio argues that if those on different sides focus on what can be done to solve social problems in 'the space between' or local communities, opposing sides will see they are not so far apart as they think. The common ground thus created can then lead to far-reaching progress on even the most divisive issues--and help quiet the discord tearing apart the Church."-- Publisher's description.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Reasons for hope in a divided church -- Part I, Foundations for common ground: Faithful citizenship : is there hope for politics? -- Cooperation with evil: personal responsibility for social problems -- Why bother to act locally? : the potential of the "space between" -- Part II, Cases: Family : what does it mean to be pro-marriage? -- Poverty reduction : a social virtue ethic -- Abortion : toward cooperation with good -- End-of-life Care : enabling better practices of dying -- Conclusion: Francis and Ferguson.