"[The book] restores the Catholic role in San Francisco's development through the 1960's to its rightful place in the city's history... Issel convincingly shows that Catholic institutions shaped San Francisco's history far more than is understood. And from its backing of unions, civil rights, and the needs of the very poor, the Catholic Church fulfilled its mission of working for ... Read moreSan Francisco's greater good."
BeyondChron, March 21st 2013 "William Issel's latest book, Church and State in the City, provides an important missing chapter in the telling of the history of San Francisco... [It] is a 'must'
both for its content and its wealth of references
for any historians whose research is focused on San Francisco. It will make many readers rethink what they thought they knew about the evolution of the city politic and what place religion has played in San Francisco's social, economic, and cultural evolution."
The Institute for Historical Study Newsletter, Spring 2013 "Issel is concerned with highlighting the importance of Catholic Christianity in the political culture of 20th-century San Francisco. He accomplishes this through a critical, contextualized narrative of various issues in the city's history (1890s-1970s) in which Catholic faith-based politics contributed to defining the city's 'common good.'... Even though Issel's coverage of San Francisco's political history is not comprehensive, his narrative is densely detailed... this solid book is worth adding to California, religious, and urban collections. Summing Up: Recommended. "
Choice, May 2013 Show Less