The entry outlining the issue of women's ordination barely touches on the arguments proposed by Inter Insigniores or the quite different line of reasoning pursued by Mulieris Dignitatem . This statement in itself is contestable, but it should at least be added that even many who support its excision do so on the condition that some statement be made by Eastern patriarchs attesting to the Filioque's absolute orthodoxy. While one should acknowledge the reversibility of ordinary magisterial teaching, it is theologically fatuous to maintain that the magisterium is disposed to error. These examples indicate a tone and texture that detract from the encyclopedia's reliability as a guide to Catholicism. One wonders if trying to compress all of Catholicism into a one-volume work, and concomitantly aiming to reach the widest possible audience, is feasible.
Theological issues are difficult to compress.
Rarely can they be accurately discussed apart from their historical and cultural contexts. What renders the limitation of space particularly troublesome for this work is that it tries to offer the reader not only the current state of Catholic teaching, but contemporary speculation on disputed questions. There is nothing wrong with this method per se, but its successful adoption indubitably requires the kind of space not available here. On the level of historical issues, however, the encyclopedia is helpful and successful. The inquirer will discover the difference between canon law, the canon of the Mass, and the canon of Scripture.