Book excerpt: Boston's Cardinal, a portrait of one of the most respected and influential leaders of the Catholic Church, provides a unique view of the Church in the modern world. Ever since the 1960s, when he spoke out courageously for racial justice as a young priest in Mississippi, Bernard Law has witnessed and participated in many of the struggles and events that have shaped American and Church history. An unusual childhood spent mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean prepared him for a vocation that has been marked from the beginning by outreach across racial, religious, and national boundaries. A gifted writer, Law recorded his reflections in the columns, speeches, and homilies that are assembled here. The book thus provides valuable insight into the man whom many consider to be the quintessential post-Vatican II bishop and into the role of the Catholic hierarchy in a time of social, political, and ecclesiastical turbulence. With the growing salience of religion in American public life, these writings on such topics as 'being Catholic and American, ' the Gulf War, urban violence, Northern Ireland, relations with Cuba, welfare, and affordable housing will be of interest to all who are concerned with advancing religiously grounded moral viewpoints in a pluralistic society.