Encyclopedia of Religion
and Society

William H. Swatos, Jr. Editor

Table of Contents | Cover Page  |  Editors  |  Contributors  |  Introduction  |  Web Version

KANE, JOHN J.

(1909-1972) Sociologist, with principal interest in the family. Educated in Philadelphia at St. Joseph's College (B.A.), Temple University (M.A.), and the University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.), Kane's academic career took him from St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, to the University of Notre Dame (1948-1970). He returned to St. Joseph's College as head of the Department of Sociology (1970-1972) while on a two-year leave of absence from Notre Dame. President, American Catholic Sociological Society, 1952.

Kane's ACSS presidential address examined the status of Catholic sociologists as academic professionals and as confessing Catholics, finding it low in both milieux. In Kane's view, most professional sociologists doubted that anyone with a religious affiliation could do genuine sociology while Catholics were disappointed in not hearing Catholic sociologists authoritatively denounce "statements of those non-Catholic sociologists which run counter to Catholic theology and philosophy." He ended his presidential address with the wish that the ACSS would step out of its professional ghetto, becoming instead a bridge that "should extend to non-Catholic colleagues on one side, our Catholic people on the other" (American Catholic Sociological Review , Vol. 14, 1953).

Loretta M. Morris

return to Encyclopedia Table of Contents

Hartford Institute for Religion Research   hirr@hartsem.edu
Hartford Seminary, 77 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105  860-509-9500