--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time the Catholic Church takes one…" description: "\"Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it seems to take one giant step back.\" — Janine di Giovanni" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png" --- # Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it… ![“Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it seems to take one giant step back.” quote by Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png) > “Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it seems to take one giant step back.” [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress in the Church is often followed by setbacks, suggesting a pattern of regression. **In simple terms:** Advances are frequently met with larger setbacks. Key Takeaway Expect setbacks after progress. Themes institutional change religion history Mood cautious analytical Type historical critical When to use this quote - policy reforms - public statements - social movements Key Concepts systemic resistance cultural inertia Questions to Reflect On - Why do institutions revert after reforms? - Can change be sustained? A Different Perspective Complex issues may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-church/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When the church takes affairs of the state more seriously than they do Jesus, Pax Romana becomes its gospel and the president becomes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/when-the-church-takes-affairs-of-the-state-more-seriously-than-they/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [No one can be, at the same time, a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/no-one-can-be-at-the-same-time-a-sincere-catholic-and-a-true-socialist/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [We have taken a giant step forward in correcting some of the misconceptions people have about the church. I think that we've made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/we-have-taken-a-giant-step-forward-in-correcting-some-of-the/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Hats, giant shades and 60-plus sunblock are part of my summer repertoire. I don't want wrinkles, but it's skin cancer I truly fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/hats-giant-shades-and-60-plus-sunblock-are-part-of-my-summer/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [It's hard for the Catholic Church to accept change. When the mass was no longer said in Latin, loyalists went into mourning for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-s-hard-for-the-catholic-church-to-accept-change-when-the-mass-was/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Every time I went to the doctor when I was in my twenties, he repeated the same thing to me: don't wait too long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/every-time-i-went-to-the-doctor-when-i-was-in-my-twenties-he-repeated/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [The decline of witch-belief was . . . entirely the product of religious skepticism. . . . The Catholic Church did not reform itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-t-joshi-2/the-decline-of-witch-belief-was-entirely-the-product-of-religious/) [S. T. Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-t-joshi-2/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [It is true that the Jewish tradition emphasizes the moral mandate to save life. It also has a different position from the Catholic Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandel/it-is-true-that-the-jewish-tradition-emphasizes-the-moral-mandate-to/) [Michael Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandel/) > [To become a saint in the Catholic Church, the normal procedure is, beatification, requiring one miracle in your name, then canonization, roughly in five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/to-become-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-the-normal-procedure-is/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“It may seem somewhat ironic that the Catholic Church finds itself advocating the same position against abortion as its severest Christian critics, the Protestant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-holland/it-may-seem-somewhat-ironic-that-the-catholic-church-finds-itself/) [Jack Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-holland/) > [The only people who are obsessed with food are anorexics and the morbidly obese. That, in erotic terms, is the Catholic church, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-only-people-who-are-obsessed-with-food-are-anorexics-and-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There are so many priests who enter triumphantly and walk up toward the altar, greeting people left and right, so as to appear sympathetic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sarah/there-are-so-many-priests-who-enter-triumphantly-and-walk-up-toward/) [Robert Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sarah/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Janine di Giovanni > [When I did a year-long study in 2005 of European countries integrating Muslims into their cultures, France came in the lowest of the rank.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/when-i-did-a-year-long-study-in-2005-of-european-countries/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Any protester knows that the only way activism works is to get the people on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/any-protester-knows-that-the-only-way-activism-works-is-to-get-the/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [In a very straightforward way, I am a terrible reporter. I'm not someone who can go into a story and not get involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-a-very-straightforward-way-i-am-a-terrible-reporter-i-m-not/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-the-aftermath-of-any-war-or-genocide-healing-and-reconciliation/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Occupy Wall Street was a disorganized movement without a clear focus and power base - essential in any successful revolution - but the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/occupy-wall-street-was-a-disorganized-movement-without-a-clear-focus/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [My mother came from a generation that did not want nannies. She had her first child at 24 and her last - me - at 42.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/my-mother-came-from-a-generation-that-did-not-want-nannies-she-had/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [There is a painful joke that Europeans often tell of their Gallic neighbors: God created France, the most beautiful country in the world with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/there-is-a-painful-joke-that-europeans-often-tell-of-their-gallic/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I did not read newspapers until I became a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/i-did-not-read-newspapers-until-i-became-a-reporter/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [“A few years back, I had a long session with a psychiatrist who was conducting a study on post-traumatic stress disorder and its effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/a-few-years-back-i-had-a-long-session-with-a-psychiatrist-who-was/) [Janine Di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [It's hard for the Catholic Church to accept change. When the mass was no longer said in Latin, loyalists went into mourning for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-s-hard-for-the-catholic-church-to-accept-change-when-the-mass-was/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [It is a well known urban myth that the French don't trust banks and store their money under their mattress. It's not that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-is-a-well-known-urban-myth-that-the-french-don-t-trust-banks-and/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [The pope is an intelligent man and realizes that time marches on. He says the Church has a long way to go in developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/the-pope-is-an-intelligent-man-and-realizes-that-time-marches-on-he/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [During war time, when people were injured, I was really frustrated I did not become a doctor. It's painful not being able to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/during-war-time-when-people-were-injured-i-was-really-frustrated-i/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Hats, giant shades and 60-plus sunblock are part of my summer repertoire. I don't want wrinkles, but it's skin cancer I truly fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/hats-giant-shades-and-60-plus-sunblock-are-part-of-my-summer/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I love magazines. I always read 'Time,' 'Newsweek' and 'The Economist.' When I get my hair cut, French 'Vogue,' French 'Elle,' 'Paris Match' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/i-love-magazines-i-always-read-time-newsweek-and-the-economist-when-i/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) [Explore all 59 Janine di Giovanni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it seems to take one giant step back.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janine di Giovanni" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one-step-forward-it-seems-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one-step-forward-it-seems-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/janine-di-giovanni-11564_back_every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one_2995153.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every time the Catholic Church takes one step forward, it seems to take one giant step back.” — Janine di Giovanni", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Janine di Giovanni", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every time the Catholic Church takes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one-step-forward-it-seems-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/every-time-the-catholic-church-takes-one-step-forward-it-seems-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```