christian sociology

Curran is one of the most important post-Vatican II Catholic moral theologians. This volume, like most of Curran's books, is a collection of journal articles and book chapters published over the last three years. These ten essays address the exercise of the Church's magisterium, Catholic social teaching, sexual ethics, the work of Richard McCormick, God's providence and human responsibility, academic freedom, and the use of military force. Certain themes weave their way through these essays. Curran insightfully insists that the Church apply the methodology and principles of its social teaching to its own structure, teaching function, and sexual ethics. In particular the historical consciousness that informs and develops Catholic social teaching can reform the exercise of the hierarchical magisterium, and the principle of subsidiarity should stimulate meaningful change in the structure of the Church.

The time has come, however, argues Juan Luis Segundo, to "theologize" about the theology of liberation itself: to examine its methodology; to weigh critically many of its premises; to test constantly its claim to have the scriptures as its font.

Here is a home-grown, incisive, spiritual, social, and cultural critique of the dominant anti-person and anti-community values in frenetic capitalism. It is must reading for all who desire to nourish a faith that does justice to the eighties.

Describes the story of American Catholicism. It chronicles how the nation's largest minorty group has coped with the challenges of practicing in America.