The Moral Theology of Pope John Paul II (Moral Traditions series)
"Curran deftly maps the moral theology that underlies Pope John Paul II's moral teachings... Respect for the church's tradition as a source of moral insight means avoiding the urge to rush to judgment, be it dismissive or valorizing. And in advancing this task, Curran's book is a welcome and valuable contribution." --Commonweal"Curran has produced another important and timely contribution to Christian ethics, an especially helpful one for coming to terms with Pope John Paul II's methodological contributions to contemporary Catholic moral theology. It will be a valuable resource for students of the tradition." --Journal of Religion"A must for American Catholic intellectuals who care about authentic Catholic conversation around what we most deeply value in our tradition." --Horizons"Curran draws on a wealth of knowledge and experience to evaluate John Paul II's work. He covers complex matters in his distinctive clear and direct style. For all who want a serious, critical analysis in relation to Catholic social tradition and the development of moral theology, this treatment is unsurpassed." --Lisa Sowle Cahill, J. Donald Monan Professor of Theology, Boston College"Charles Curran has given us a much-needed volume and has done so in masterful vision. Bringing together the teachings of the major social encyclicals with the moral and theological foundations of more general documents such asVeritatis splendorandFides et ratio, Curran has provided the first comprehensive overview of the papal social perspective. He points to its genuine strengths but likewise shows its inconsistencies and questionable assumptions. No one serious about understanding Catholic social teaching can ignore this work." --John T. Pawlikowski, professor of social ethics, Catholic Theological Union"An excellent overview of John Paul II's moral teaching, and a most valuable resource for studying and assessing the Pope's overall contribution to Christian ethics." --David Hollenbach, SJ, Margaret O'Brien Flatley Chair in Catholic Theology, Boston College"A penetrating analysis of the moral theology of one of the dominant religious leaders of our time by one of contemporary Catholicism's most respected thinkers. Catholics and non-Catholics alike will be impressed by Fr. Curran's insights and criticisms and by the fair-minded and gracious spirit in which he offers them." --J. Philip Wogaman, professor emeritus of Christian ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary"There are books that provide overviews of the teaching of John Paul II and books that delve into the biographical background of his faith and teaching. I know of no book that examines so skillfully and carefully the theological and ethical method the pope utilizes in formulating his moral teaching." --Kenneth R. Himes, chair, Department of Theology, Boston College