Specialized Catholic Action in the United States: The Case of the Young Christian Workers

Abstract:Specialized Catholic Action movements were vital for the Church's attempt to engage with the world during the first half of the twentieth century. Often viewed as similar, or even identical, to Catholic Action, specialized Catholic Action movements were unique in their approach. As "like-tolike" apostolates, they attempted to bring change first in their social and professional milieus before radiating out to the larger society. The Young Christian Workers Movement (YCW) was the first specialized Catholic Action movement in the United States, and it was tremendously successful during the 1930s and 40s in organizing youth to promote change and reconnect them to the Church. However, the YCW was unable to adapt to a later era's social, cultural, and political challenges, which ultimately led to the movement's dissolution in 1970.