Preface Antonius LiedhegenerCivic Engagement by Religion. American Civil Societyand the Catholic Case in Prespective. An Introduction I. Civil Society and Religion in the U.S.John FarinaA Fresh Moment of Dialogue. Religion and Liberalism Revisited Mark ChavesCongregations' Significance to American Civic Life Corwin E. SmidtFaith-Based Initiatives: A New Chance or a Political Threatto American Civil Society? Frank AdloffCivil Society, Civic Engagement, and Religion:Findings and Research Problems in Germany and the U.S. II. Civic Engagement and Volunteeringin American Catholicism: ResearchMargaret O'Brien SteinfelsCatholic Civic Engagement: Recent Debates and Positionswithin the Catholic Church Gerald P. Fogarty, S.J.Volunteerism in the Land of Voluntarism: The American Catholic Church James D. Davidson/Mark McCormickCatholics and Civic Engagement:Empirical Findings at the Individual Level Meghan Davis/Antonius LiedhegenerCatholic Civic Engagement at the Local Level. The Parish andBeyond Bryan T. FroehleOrganizing Volunteering? National Catholic Organizationsand Civic Engagement III. Catholic Volunteering and Catholic Civic Engagementin Practice: ExamplesMartin KaiserVolunteering as a Topic of Intercultural Learning.Experiences from German-American Exchange Programs Andreas Henkelmann"CrossingOver": A Project Supporting the Dialogue on the CatholicChurch and Parish Life in the United States and Germany Bryan T. FroehleParish Planning Processes and Catholic Volunteering in the U.S. Jeffry Odell KorgenState Catholic Conferences, Local Bishops, and Volunteer Leaders:A Pastoral Reflection on Catholic Legislative Advocacyon the Diocesan Level IV. Catholic Civic Engagement and American Society:ContextsAntonius LiedhegenerStill Something Special? The Recent Debate on Civil Societyand Religion in the U.S. and the Catholic Tradition John FarinaThe Future of Catholic Civic Engagement