I’ve made it no secret around the blogosphere that I’m a pretty big Dorothy Day fan. In fact, when I wrote up a post about her back in February, I listed the forthcoming book Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World, by Catholic author and blogger Brandon Vogt as one to read based solely on the fact that her picture was on the cover. Just kidding. It was actually the whole premise of Vogt’s book that hooked me. When it was finally released I couldn’t click the “Download to Kindle” button fast enough.
And it did not disappoint. Not only do most Catholics have a skewed idea of Social Justice, they don’t know what true Catholic Social Justice looks like in action. In walks the book, ‘Saints and Social Justice’, sets the record straight and drops the mike.
If you’ve been led to believe a Pro-Life Committee and a Social Justice Committee can’t exist in the same parish, this book is for you. Vogt has culled information from several Church documents, including the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, to show how while the Church’s teaches don’t fit neatly in a Conservative or Liberal box, She does tackle all the issues from a thoroughly Catholic viewpoint. The seven sections are ‘Life and Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘Call to Family, Community Participation’, ‘Rights and Responsibilities’, ‘Option for the Poor and Vulnerable’, ‘The Dignity of Work and the Rights of the Workers’, ‘Solidarity’, and ‘Care for Creation’. Each contains a brief overview of the Church’s teachings plus the profiles of two saints. Reading how these great men and women lived out there lives gives us a roadmap on how we can start to embrace the Church’s true teachings on Social Justice and hopefully change hearts and minds along the way.
I was so excited when Vogt agreed to be my video guinea pig, I mean, allowed me to interview him. However, in true rookie / This Ain’t the Lyceum fashion, I screwed up the video. It froze at several spots and darn if my head wasn’t leaning out of the frame half the time.

Plus, I forgot to smile at several spots and looked as though I was ready to kill someone. Somehow, I thought it would be easier to be the Catholic mommy blogger version of Stephen Colbert. But the audio was great with no skips, and so I present this podcast of my interview with Vogt. Once you’re done listening, be sure to enter to win your own copy!
A big thanks to Brandon and Our Sunday Visitor!
Lastly, in my interview I disparagingly mention ‘nuns in pantsuits’. I know that there are many holy religious women who serve the Church that do not wear full habits. I apologize in advance for the comment. If I was better at editing, I would’ve tried to hack it out. I make no apologies for mocking felt banners.
If I don’t win this book, I might. . . buy it for myself 🙂
This sounds like a wonderful book!
You’ve piqued my interest – it sounds like a good read for me and my husband!
Whoa, this is cool! Thanks for doing this giveaway!
Oops, I mean, if I don’t win this book, I might sulk for a week. And then buy it myself like a big girl.
So good! Thanks Kelly and Brandon!
If I don’t win this book I might… Just read the copy of “the Long Lonliness” that my friend lent me! Which I’ll do anyways…
If I don’t win this book…I might continue to look askance at Dorothy Day. She was cited numerous times in my best friend’s uber-liberal, anti-Catholic social work curriculum, so not knowing anything about her, I assumed all this time that she was a dissenting Catholic. Shame on me, hopefully I’ll learn more about the real Dorothy Day and true Catholic social justice.
If I don’t win this book, I will probably buy it in a month or so!
If I don’t win this book I might… Buy it
If I don’t win this book I might conclude that someone else needed to win it more than I do!
If I don’t win this book, I’ll hopefully pick a copy soon.
Can an Australian win? 🙂
I will find out!
Came here from Carrots! Hayley always has the best recommendations. I would love to read this book. Our faith is so rich!
Great job Kelly! Thank you for teaching me how to pronounce Brandon’s last name!
If I don’t win this book…I will still find a way to read it!
If I don’t win this book I might think I need to spend more time in prayer. 🙂
If I don’t win this book I may buy it.
Thank you. Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin are my heroes and I deeply live the Catholic Worker movement. You may also be interested in the book by Paul Elie, The Life You Save May Be Your Own, which chronicles the lives of four Catholic contemporaries, Day, Merton, O’Connor, and Percy, and there interaction with one another. Peace and goodness.
I am one of the “these two committees can’t both exist” folks and I am eager to be corrected worth this excellent book.
If I don’t win this book, I might…take a nap as a consolation prize!
If I don’t win this book I might…have to get it for my Kindle (if that is available). Seriously though, I really enjoyed the interview! There was a lot to think about and really it made me feel challenged to find my own personal Calcutta.
I have this book on my kindle and am looking forward to digging in. Dorothy Day is such an intriguing person (and hopefully soon, a saint!) You did a good job on the interview, and I’d encourage you to keep at it!!