Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania
Melissa J. Wilde, PhD is a sociologist of religion whose research focuses on how religion intersects with key social structures, especially, race, class and gender. Her first book, Vatican II, examined votes from the Vatican Secret Archive that no researcher had ever seen before to explain the outcome of the Council. Her second book, Birth of the Culture Wars, demonstrates that American religious groups were indelibly shaped by the white supremacist eugenics movement of the early Twentieth century. Her current research explores the relationship between religion and political views, with a particular focus on intersections of religion and class. In her spare time, she enjoys CrossFit and any manner of outdoor activities, especially in the Adirondacks.
The Catholic Church resists change – but Vatican II shows it's possible
Oct 09, 2018 13:41 pm UTC| Insights & Views Law Life
Pope Francis has asked the heads of every bishops conference around the world to gather for a summit in February to discuss the issue of sexual abuse in the church. Even as the pope takes these steps, debates continue...
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