Church and Revolution deals with the interesting historical question: How did the Catholic Church move from being a defender of the status quo to become a progressive force in world affairs? Thomas Bokenkotter traces the movement of social justice in the Church over the two hundred years since the French Revolution through portraits of colorful figures who were deeply involved in the political and social revolutions of the past two centuries, and who helped shape the Church's response to them.

Those portrayed include Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, Irish emancipator Daniel O'Connell, founder of the American Catholic Worker movement Dorothy Day, and Polish electrician and activist Lech Walesa.