Richard A. McCormick and the Renewal of Moral Theology

In a career that spanned the periods before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council, Richard A. McCormick, S.J. (19222000), was one of the major American theologians who demonstrated broad interest in Christian theological ethics and has written extensively on the issues of fundamental and special theology. When the Second Vatican Council directed that attention should be paid to the renewal of moral theology, McCormick answered that challenge. In this study Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor, C.S.Sp., examines McCormicks thought and work in detail and sets it against the backdrop of larger developments that have taken place within the Church and the field of moral theology. Odozor begins by establishing McCormicks contribution to the renewal of moral theology and reconstructs McCormicks theological program by situating him within various social, theological, and professional contexts. He then goes on to show whether and to what extent McCormick has been consistent and coherent in his moral theological discourse. To effectively pursue the aims of this study, Odozor divided it into seven chapters. The first chapter delineates the parameters of pre-Vatican II moral theology and situates McCormick and his work in a larger context by defining the historical, social, and ecclesial contexts of his formation. The next five chapters take up themes central to understanding McCormicks work, including the nature of Christian ethics, the Church as moral teacher, proportionate reasoning, anthropology, and casuistry. In addition to his insightful analysis of McCormicks contributions to the field, Odozor includes a sensitive treatment of the complex interactions between McCormick as an individual scholar and the world in relation to which his identity as a scholar was formed and transformed. Richard A. McCormick and the Renewal of Moral Theology Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Vatican II and the Call to Renewal 1— Background and Context Biographical Sketch American Catholic Experience Prior to Vatican II The Manualist Tradition in Catholic Moral Theology McCormick'S Doctoral Dissertation Structure and Argument Method in McCormick's Thesis Conclusion 2— The Nature of Christian Ethics The Primacy of Charity The Place and Role of Law Natural Law Natural Law and Gospel Morality The Distinctiveness of Christian Ethics Christian Faith and Bioethics Determination of Moral Norms Formal and Material Norms Conclusion 3— The Church As Moral Teacher McCormick on the Birth Control Debate Before Humanae Vitae2 Nature of the Magisterium Notion of Teaching The Influence of Vatican II The Scope of the Magisterium Ecclesiological Considerations Methodological Considerations Dissent Nature of Dissent The Theologian and Dissent Conclusion 4— Anthropology What Defines the Human Person? Created In God's Image Finitude A Historical Subject Sociality The Human Person As Moral Agent Freedom Knowledge Prediscursive Knowledge Discursive Knowledge Conclusion 5— Proportionate Reason Initial Efforts Peter Knauer McCormick's Initial Response to Knauer The Direct / Indirect Distinction Proportionate Reason Intrinsic Evil Critics of the Theory Conclusion 6— Casuistry Sanctity of Life Questions Abortion Methodological Considerations Moral Considerations Pastoral Position The Legal Regulation To Save Or Let Die The Meaning of Sexuality and Family Sterilization and Contraception Reproductive Technologies Artificial Insemination Methodological Considerations Conclusion 7— Richard A. McCormick and the Renewal of Moral Theology Summary Influences Theologians Events The Achievement of Richard McCormick Retrieving the Critical Component of Moral Theology Entering into Critical Dialogue with Culture Acceleration of Theological Dialogue The Rediscovery of Casuistry A Renewed Moral Theology? Methodology Theology Abbreviations A— Works by Richard A. McCormick B— McCormick with Others Notes Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Bibliography Works BY Richard A. McCormick A— Books and Monographs B— Articles C.— Book Reviews Secondary Sources Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W "In a career that spans the periods before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council, Richard A. McCormick, one of the major American theologians of our time, has demonstrated broad interests in Christian theological ethics and has written extensively on issues of fundamental and special theology. When the Second Vatican Council directed that special attention be paid to the renewal of moral theology, McCormick answered the challenge and has continued to do so ever since. In this study Odozor examines McCormick's thought and work in detail and sets it against the backdrop of larger developments that have taken place within the Church and the field of moral theology during the past five decades." "Odozor begins by establishing McCormick's contribution to the renewal of moral theology and reconstructs McCormick's theological program by situating him within various social, theological, and professional contexts. He then goes on to show whether and to what extent McCormick has been consistent and coherent in his moral theological discourse. Although Odozor contends that McCormick's achievements are not totally unambiguous - theologically as well as methodologically - he defends them as laudable nonetheless."--Jacket In this study, Odozor examines the American theologian Richard McCormick's thought and work in detail, setting it against the backdrop of larger developments that have taken place within the church and the field of moral theology during the past 50 years.