Moral Theology in an Age of Renewal

Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor

Description

Fr. Paulinus Odozor, C.S.Sp., offers a comprehensive survey of developments in moral theology since the Second Vatican Council. In this useful new book he discusses the call of the Council for the renewal of moral theology and the role the Council itself played in this renewal. Odozor also explores the various issues and controversies which have marked the discipline in the past forty years. The dramatic changes and developments in moral theology during this time period rival any in the history of the Church. Moral Theology in an Age of Renewal covers a wealth of important topics, including the distinctiveness of Christian morality, natural law, scripture and ethics, moral norms, the Church’s teaching authority, virtue ethics, and casuistry. Odozor provides a constructive proposal for a common ground which makes these debates in moral discourse possible. This scholarly study, one of the few of its kind, will be of significant value for moral theologians, other ethicists, systematic theologians, and anyone interested in Catholic cultural and intellectual history since Vatican II.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Theology
• Philosophie et théologie
• Religión
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: University of Notre Dame Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780268172572
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

MOR AL T H EOLO GY

IN A N A GE

OF R ENE WA L

M OR A L THEOLOGY IN Age AN OF R E N E WA L

A Study of the Catholic Tradition since Vatican II

PAULINUS IKECHUKWU ODOZOR,C.S.Sp.

University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana

Copyright © 2003 by University ofNotre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 www.undpress.nd.edu All Rights Reserved

Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Odozor, Paulinus Ikechukwu. Moral theology in an age of renewal : a study of the Catholic tradition since Vatican II / Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-268-03469-9 (alk. paper) ISBN 0-268-03470-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Christian ethics—History—20th century.2. Catholic Church— Doctrines—History—20th century.I. Title. BJ1249.03552003 241'.042—dc21 2003009027

to

Livy, Caje, Ekwy, Anne, Eunice, Justina, Leo, Hygy,&Oluchi, and to all their little ones,

who make their lives and mine happier,

with love and gratitude

c o n t e n t s

Acknowledgments

Introduction

P A R T O N E The Quest for Renewal: Historical, Ecclesial, and Theological Contexts

chapter one The Second Vatican Council and the Renewal of Moral Theology

chapter two Humanae Vitae

and Its Aftermath

chapter three Some Theological Supports for the Renewal of Moral Theology

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P A R T T W O The Nature of Christian Ethics

chapter four The Distinctiveness of Christian Morality

chapter five Scripture and Ethics

chapter six Natural Law in the Catholic Moral Tradition

chapter seven Magisterium and Morality

P A R T T H R E E Norms, Contexts, and Method

chapter eight The Debate on Moral Norms

chapter nine Two Alternative Approaches: Virtue Ethics and Casuistry

P A R T F O U R A Living Tradition

chapter ten Catholic Moral Tradition in an Age of Renewal

chapter eleven Pope John Paul II on Postconciliar Moral Theology: An Epilogue and a Beginning

Notes Bibliography Index

Contents

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189

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271

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327 371 388

a c k n o w l e d g m e n t s

I first thought of writing this book sometime soon after the publication of Veritatis Splendor,the encyclical of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in 1994. I was unable to begin work on the project until 1999, owing to heavy teaching and administrative responsibilities at the Spiritan Interna- tional School of Theology, Attakwu, Enugu, Nigeria, where I was then. I started researching and writing the book only when I moved to the Uni- versity of Notre Dame in the fall of 1999. Since I began work on the text, I have received so much assistance from many people, and it is thus my pleasant duty here to express my gratitude to the many individuals who have facilitated this work in various ways. I owe immense gratitude to my community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (the Spiritans), Province of Nigeria, for allowing me time to undertake this work. I thank my Provincial Superior and friend, Fr. Ga- briel Ezewudo, C.S.Sp., for generously extending my study leave. Thanks immensely to the Most Rev. John O. Onaiyekan, the Archbishop of Abuja, my father in faith, and a friend whose wise counsel and constant support and encouragement have been crucial to the success of this project and to many other endeavors of my life. In like manner, I must acknowledge the friendship and love of Fr. Daryl Rybicki, my host at St. Adalbert Parish, who provided me with a conducive living environment for my research.

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