Tradition and Church Reform: Perspectives on Catholic Moral Teaching

by Charles E. Curran

Overview

In essays reflecting the broad themes that have characterized his career, Charles Curran examines developments in Catholic social thought, sexual morality, and the question of reform and renewal in the church. His overview of Catholic Social Teaching includes a personal response to the challenge of “white privilege,” and a fascinating treatment of human rights--—“an excellent example of discontinuity and even error in the Catholic tradition” as the church has moved from hostility to enthusiastic support for human rights. In Part II, he considers the bioethical and sexual traditions in Catholic moral theology, while in Part III he addresses the reforms of Vatican II and their ongoing meaning for the church. While noting that the struggle for reform will always be part of the church’s life, he concludes with a hopeful appraisal of Pope Francis and signs of renewal—especially in the field of moral teaching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608336388
Publisher:	Orbis
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Part I Social Perspectives

Introduction 3

1 Overview of the Development of the Catholic Social and Political Tradition 7

2 The Reception of Catholic Social and Economic Teaching in the United States 31

3 George G. Higgins: Catholic Social Teaching and Social Action in the United States 69

4 Human Rights in the Christian Tradition 89

5 The Catholic Tradition in Dialogue with the Black Theological Ethics of J. Deotis Roberts 113

6 White Privilege 129

Part II Bioethical and Sexual Perspectives

Introduction 139

7 The Catholic Moral Tradition in Bioethks 141

8 An Appraisal of Pope John Paul II's Teaching on Sexuality and Marriage 159

9 The Long Shadow of Humanae Vitae on the Tradition 181

Part III Reform at Vatican II and Afterward

Introduction 189

10 Pope John XXIII and the Reform of Vatican II 191

11 How Vatican II Brought Spirituality and Moral Theology Together 201

12 The Reform of Moral Theology at Vatican II and After: Through the Lens of Enda McDonagh 209

13 The Need for Reform of the Sacrament of Reconciliation 229

14 Bernard Haring: A Model for Church Reformers 239

15 A Theology and Spirituality for Church Reformers 247

Conclusion: Pope Francis on Reform and the Catholic Moral Tradition 261

Index 281