Shirley Williams, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and a practising Catholic, explores the relationship between Christian teaching, the Church and public life in the modern world. In an autobiographical introduction, she considers the impact of her faith on her own political career.Her central theme is an examination of the ways in which traditional structures of pre-industrial society have been transformed and in some cases destroyed, by scientific and material progress. Consequently, humans have been distanced from God and the natural world, His creation. She writes about the disappearance of hierarchy, and draws parallels between the current cynicism about politicians and the political process, and the prevailing crisis in the priesthood.She examines the new roles that have opened up for women and their growing self-confidence, and argues for ways in which the Catholic Church should recognize and respect those roles. Williams considers the effects of globalization in the 21st century and argues that in the wake of September 11, there is a cultural and social gulf between countries that support and harbour terrorism and our own pragmatic, relativistic, secu