Book excerpt: The focus of this book is on the situation prevailing in the United States, England and Wales, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand from 1922 to 1965, whereby Catholic schools were used to maximise the possibility of recruiting new members to the religious oders and to minimise the temptation to leave the religious life amongst those who had already joined. Four major practices are examined in this regard. First, Catholic schools deliberately set out to encourage pupils to join the ranks of the religious. Secondly, they replicated within the schools the authoritarianism of the religious life. Thirdly, they worked continuously to marginalize lay teachers from their decision-making. Finally, they were ever vigilant in their opposition to co-education and sex education. The contribution of the religious orders to Catholic education is recognized, but consideration is also given to child abuse, both physical and sexual, in whhich members of various religious teaching orders engaged. The book closes with some consideration of current practices in Catholic education. -- book cover.