A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching (Concise Guide Series) [Paperback]

Kevin E. McKenna (Author)

Book Description

Series: Concise Guide Series | Publication Date: August 2, 2002

A Timely Resource for Understanding, Teaching, and Implementing Catholic Social Teaching As parishes and schools intensify efforts to promote Catholic social teaching, here is a welcome distillations of scoial principles presented in both papal encylicals and pastoral letters developed by American bishops. Following the structure of the U.S. bishops document Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, the book speaks to seven significant themes:

Life and the Dignity of the Human Person

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Rights and Responsibilities

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Solidarity

Care for God's Creation Each chapter includes reflection questions ideal for individual or group usage, and an appendix offers biographical information about popes who have issued social encyclicals, suggested homily themes and a Reconciliation Service for Justice and Peace. Sure to become an invaluable resource for all pastoral ministers, A CONCISE GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING is also suitable for parish adult study groups, and high school and college classes on Catholic social teaching. REVIEWS Father Kevin McKenna's Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is a real gem which offers both the Church professional and the person in the pew an insightful and understandable presentation of this rich treasure of the Church's heritage and practical suggestions for its implementation.
-- Howard J. Hubbard
Bishop of Albany A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is an invaluable resource for parish and community groups. It provides solid grounding in the Church's social teachings as the basis for initiatives undertaken in promoting the gospel of justice. It is "user-friendly" and practical.
-- Anne Curtis, RSM
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Fr. McKenna provides a useful introduction to the social writings of the popes and U.S. bishops by grouping these writings around Catholic social teaching's seven major themes. The pastoral tools included are readily adapted for various settings.
-- Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Ph.D.
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York Father McKenna has provided a thematic compendium of some of the marvelous insights present in Catholic social teaching. His summary of various Church documents will be helpful to supplement any discussion of the historical and political implications of "perplexing social issues" and to develop an appreciation for the Church's willingness to struggle with these issues over time.
-- Helen Marie Burns, RSM
Vice President, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rev. Kevin E. McKenna is the president of the Canon Law Society of America and pastor at St. Cecilia Parish in Rochester, New York. Ordained in 1977, Fr. McKenna received his doctorate degree in canon law from St. Paul University in Ottawa in 1990. He is the author of numerous articles and two previous books, The Ministry of Law in the Church Today (University of Notre Dame Press) and A Concise Guide to Canon Law (Ave Maria Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Ave Maria Press (August 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877939799
• ISBN-13: 978-0877939795
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost as "Concise as Love Your Neighbor", December 14, 2003

By 

Patricia M. Dugan "Patricia M. Dugan" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching (Concise Guide Series) (Paperback)

This Book, Father McKenna's third, shows how wonderful a teacher he is. For this tome he has taken on the huge job of explaining Catholic Social Teaching. He does it well. The title says "Concise" but the more apt word may be "Uncomplicated". He takes the teaching, adds scripture references and papal encyclicals, all made easy in his fine way of exploring the topics such as economic justice, labor rights and responsibilities, and peace on earth. His references are truly excellent, but the treasure trove of this book are the "Reflection Questions" which follow every chapter. They draw you in to the issues and make you make intellectual choices necessary to understand and hopefully live your life according to your choices. As usual in Father McKenna's books, there are indexes, and a comprehensive glossary, and, biographies of the Popes who figured most prominently in the development of Catholic Social Teaching as we have it today. This book is a good solid, read, on a subject that should not be more complicated than love your neighbor. Add this book to your library, and you will value it for a very long time to come.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful books, March 3, 2009

By 

Edward J. Littelmann "Ambassador of the Spirit" (Toledo, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching (Concise Guide Series) (Paperback)

Ordered books for our School of Leaders in the Cursillo Movement regarding the Social Justice teaching of the Catholic Church. This is just what we wanted. The service was fine, books arrived in tact (even the used one!). Thanks for this service.