In this impressive study of the influence of religion upon the career and graduate school plans of the nation's college graduates of June, 1961 [Religion and Career], Fr. Greeley documents the recent and dramatic rise in status of American Catholics….

Fr. Greeley finds no evidence among the current Catholic crop of college graduates to support the oft-repeated allegations that Catholic colleges are notably inferior, that Catholics are making but a negligible contribution to the intellectual life of America, or that American Catholics are prone to undervalue economic achievement….

This study has many virtues. Not only does it provide a factual base for moving ahead the "great debate" on the intellectual qualities of American Catholicism, but it should help to dispel the notion that sociologists merely count noses. The author teases out many provocative conclusions from his data, but always with the restraint and caution of the trained social scientist...