A Church That Can And Cannot Change: The Development of Catholic Moral Teaching (Erasmus Institute Books)

Using concrete examples, John T. Noonan, Jr., demonstrates that the moral teaching of the Catholic Church has changed and continues to change without abandoning its foundational commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, Noonan looks at the profound changes that have occurred over the centuries in Catholic moral teaching on freedom of conscience, lending for a profit, and slavery. He also offers a close examination of the change now in progress concerning divorce. In these changes Noonan perceives the Catholic Church to be a vigorous, living organism answering new questions with new answers, and enlarging the capacity of believers to learn through experience and empathy what love demands. He contends that the impetus to change comes from a variety of sources, including prayer, meditation on Scripture, new theological insights and analyses, the evolution of human institutions, and the examples and instruction given by persons of good will. Noonan also states that the Church cannot change its commitment to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Given this absolute, how can the moral teaching of the Church change? Noonan finds this question unanswerable when asked in the abstract. But in the context of the specific facts and events he discusses in this book, an answer becomes clear. As our capacity to grasp the Gospel grows, so too, our understanding and compassion, which give life to the Gospel commandments of love, grow. By Concrete Examples, Dated And Put In Context, John T. Noonan, Jr., Demonstrates How The Moral Teaching Of The Catholic Church Has Changed And Is Changing Without Abandoning Its Foundational Commitment To The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. From St. Paul's Return Of A Runaway Slave To His Master, To John Henry Newman's Startle At The Idea That Slavery Is Intrinsically Evil, The Church Resisted Condemning Slavery. Today, John Paul Ii Has Made Clear That Slavery In Itself, Everywhere And Always, Is Sinful. Similar Revolutions Have Occurred In The Church's Teaching On Making Money Out Of Lending And On Respect For The Beliefs Of Heretics. And Another, Little-known Change Is Taking Place As Modern Popes Grant Divorces. In These Changes Noonan Perceives The Catholic Church To Be A Vigorous, Living Organism Answering New Questions With New Answers And Enlarging The Capacity Of Believers To Learn Through Experience And Empathy What Love Demands. He Contends That The Impetus To Change Comes From A Variety Of Sources, Including Prayer, Meditation On Scripture, New Theological Insights And Analyses, The Evolution Of Human Institutions, And The Examples And Instruction Given By Persons Of Good Will. Noonan Also States That The Church Cannot Change Its Commitment To Preaching The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Given This Absolute, How Can The Moral Teaching Of The Church Change? Noonan Finds This Question Unanswerable When Asked In The Abstract. But In The Context Of The Specific Facts And Events He Discusses In This Book, An Answer Becomes Clear. As Our Capacity To Grasp The Gospel Grows, So Do Our Understanding And Compassion, Which Give Life To The Gospel Commandments Of Love. Noonan's Book, Based On The Erasmus Lectures He Delivered At The University Of Notre Dame In 2003, Will Challenge Anyone Interested In The History And Future Of The Catholic Church.--jacket. Three Unavoidable Issues. 1. Father Newman Startles. -- 2. Concubines, Castrati, Concordats, Is There Teaching There? -- 3. Morals Without Experience And Empathy Are Like Sundaes Without Ice Cream Or Sauce. -- The Unknown Sin. 4. God's Slaveowners. -- 5. God's Slaves. -- 6. The Pope's Slaves. -- 7. Human Slaves As God's Slaves. -- 8. A Girl Named Zita And Other Commodities. -- 9. Moral Masters. -- 10. How The Portuguese Got The Guinea Trade. -- 11. If John Major Were An Indian. -- 12. Conventions, Cries And Murmurs, Repressions. -- 13. Advice To The Missions. -- 14. Only If Christianity Is A Lye. -- 15. The Pope Is Prompted. -- 16. Emancipators' Éclat. -- 17. The Sin Perceived, Categorized, Condemned. -- Intrinsic Evil. 18. Unnatural Reproduction. -- 19. In Your City You Say It Often Happens. -- 20. The Custom Of The Country. -- Folly, Championed. 21. The Future Is Put Off. -- 22. With Words For Infidels, With Fire For The Faltering Baptized. -- 23. The Requirements Of The Human Person. -- Conjoined By God, Disjoined By God. 24. If The Unbeliever Separates. -- 25. If Necessity Urges. -- 26. Out Of Deeds Comes Law. -- 27. Out Of Difficulties Comes Development. -- The Test Of The Teaching. 28. How Development Can Be Dated, Cannot Be Denied, And Should Neither Be Exaggerated Nor Ignored. -- 29. How We Are Innocent Despite The Development Of Our Descendants. -- 30. How Precedent Deters But Does Not Defeat Development. -- 31. That Form And Formula Fail To Foil Development. -- 32. That Development Cannot Exceed Capacity. -- 33. That Development Runs By No Rule Except The Rule Of Faith. John T. Noonan, Jr. A John W. Kluge Center Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 226-284) And Index. Cover Half title Series page Title page Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Three Unavoidable Issues 1. Father Newman Startles 2. Concubines, Castrati, Concordats—Is There Teaching There? 3. Morals without Experience and Empathy Are like Sundaes without Ice Cream or Sauce The Unknown Sin 4. God’s Slaveowners 5. God’s Slaves 6. The Pope’s Slaves 7. Human Slaves as God’s Slaves 8. A Girl Named Zita and Other Commodities 9. Moral Masters 10. How the Portuguese Got the Guinea Trade 11. If John Major Were an Indian 12. Conventions, Cries and Murmurs, Repressions 13. Advice to the Missions 14. Only if Christianity Is a Lye 15. The Pope Is Prompted 16. Emancipators’ Éclat 17. The Sin Perceived, Categorized, Condemned Intrinsic Evil 18. Unnatural Reproduction 19. In Your City You Say It Often Happens 20. The Custom of the Country Folly, Championed 21. The Future Is Put Off 22. With Words for Infidels, with Fire for the Faltering Baptized 23. The Requirements of the Human Person Conjoined by God, Disjoined by God 24. If the Unbeliever Separates 25. If Necessity Urges 26. Out of Deeds Comes Law 27. Out of Difficulties Comes Development The Test of the Teaching 28. How Development Can Be Dated, Cannot Be Denied, and Should Neither Be Exaggerated Nor Ignored 29. How We Are Innocent Despite the Development of Our Descendants 30. How Precedent Deters but Does Not Defeat Development 31. That Form and Formula Fail to Foil Development 32. That Development Cannot Exceed Capacity 33. That Development Runs by No Rule Except the Rule of Faith Abbreviations Notes Index