Stack’s inspiring memoir tells the story of
the prophetic Catholic theologian,
the Rev. Dr. Anthony Kosnik
What is this book about?
God in the House finally tells the untold story of the Rev. Anthony “Tony” Kosnnik, the courageous Catholic priest and scholar who co-authored the groundbreaking 1977 report on human sexuality that challenged traditional teachings and sent shockwaves through Catholic institutions.
What people are saying about Tony Kosnik, Margaret Stack and God in the House
In his role as priest, Tony Kosnik challenged us all to be adult Catholics and form consciences by which we could make sound and Gospel-centered decisions. In his role as educator, he expanded his students’ ability to think and to be their best selves. In his role as friend, he made us feel welcome and accepted in his presence.
The late Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, written at Tony Kosnik’s death in 2017
Tony Kosnik’s name will always be associated with the landmark book, Human Sexuality, written by a committee of the Catholic Theological Society of America that he chaired. The Vatican condemned the book. And, I am sure that Tony himself never intended the book as the last word on this subject. However, the book served the very important purpose of dealing with the most divisive and difficult issue in Catholic personal ethics in our time. I have publicly said that Tony Kosnik was the best pastoral theologian in the Catholic Church in the United States. Now we can thank Margaret Stack for this study of his life and work so that readers can understand his marvelous ability to combine his deep knowledge of moral theology with the needs of the people of God.
Charles Curran, Catholic theologian and retired university professor at Southern Methodist University
Margaret Stack’s God in the House, lovingly describes the remarkable faith-journey of Anthony Kosnik. As widow, friend and collaborator with the former priest and ethicist, she warmly describes his remarkable life and enriches this inspiring narrative with her expertise as a clinical psychologist.
Suzanne Sattler, IHM, co-author of No Guilty Bystander: The Extraordinary Life of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
God in the House tells the story of the turbulent recent decades of the Catholic Church through the lens of a courageous priest, an accomplished professional woman and the marriage they forged in sync with values that matter most, especially kindness and humor. Author Margaret Stack draws on her own expertise as a clinical psychologist in recounting the life and teaching of her late husband, the Rev. Anthony Kosnik. Kosnik was the theologian whose prophetic scholarship resulted in his banishment from the seminary where he spent 38 years. Documenting how the Catholic Church lost touch with the ethics of sex, Stack writes: “Tony presented sexual ethics in terms of a set of values to be upheld rather than acts to be avoided.”
Bill Mitchell, former publisher of The National Catholic Reporter
I was privileged to know Tony Kosnik, and I’m delighted that his widow Margaret Stack has so well captured his vigorous intellect, his personal warmth, and his all-embracing love of life. At a time when a rigid orthodoxy threatens to engulf religious practice today, Tony Kosnik’s more humanistic approach points to a better way.
John Gallagher, journalist and author of Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir
Vatican II brought with it a significant change in the Catholic Church’s understanding of spirituality. For those seeking deeper communion with God, pre-Vatican II spiritual direction had routinely counseled a “flee the world” mentality. Vatican II, in its call for Church engagement in the world, opened us to finding and experiencing God in and through the world, especially in deeper human relationships. And if pre-Vatican II spiritually had fostered a “hierarchical” form of holiness, with celibate priests and nuns at the “top,” Vatican II emphasized a “universal call to holiness” rooted in baptism. For many of us, this was a momentous change!
Tony Kosnik played a significant role in helping to bring about this much-needed change in the Church’s mindset. In God in the House, Peggy Stack has presented Tony’s life in all its simplicity and complexity. She both presents the rationale behind his advanced theological understanding of human sexuality and his Christ-like response to all that came into his life, always seeking to respond to others with kindness and concern. For those like myself who are “spiritually inclined,” God in the House is an inspiring read!
Tom Lumpkin, Detroit priest active in the Catholic Worker Movement
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About the Author:
Margaret “Peggy” Stack, Ph.D., ABPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist with over four decades of experience in psychotherapy, including trauma-informed therapy, psychological assessment, and systems theory. She earned her doctorate from the University of Detroit and has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate level. In the intimate memoir, “God in the House,” she shares the personal and public journey she walked alongside her late husband, the Rev. Anthony Kosnik, a priest, scholar, and quiet reformer in the post–Vatican II Catholic Church. As a writer and speaker, Margaret brings a rare combination of clinical insight, theological awareness, and lived experience to questions of conscience, resilience, and institutional change.
News about Margaret Stack, Tony Kosnik and God in the House
Links to latest news, including recent columns, podcasts and videos:
- Our 1st Announcement of Margaret’s book appearing in bookstores.
- See the God in the House Book Trailer on YouTube. (It’s the same video that you can see on this landing page, but going to YouTube also gives you easy “sharing” links if you want to tell friends about this book, perhaps to consider a group discussion.)
- ‘God in the House’ inspires readers with a loving, hopeful vision of what a Christian community can be is the headline of a ReadTheSpirit magazine Cover Story, which explains more about this book’s historic context, shares some quotes from the book—and includes examples of photographs from the book.
For media professionals …
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For information about group orders …
We always encourage readers to order from their preferred booksellers. However, if you are interested in more than 10 copies, email [email protected] to inquire about our prices for direct shipment in quantity. For larger group orders, we could modify a shipment of your books with your organization’s logo and additional pages telling readers about your group or event.
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