Customer Reviews

Prophecy and Diplomacy: The Moral Doctrine of John Paul II

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John Paul II has changed the face of the world. The rebirth of democracy in Eastern Europe, in Latin America, and in the Philippines is in large measure his work and the work of his church. The Jesuit writers of this book explain the moral vision behind the Pope's titanic political struggle---and they are clearly cheering him on!

This is a scholar's book. And with Jesuit scholars, the hair-splitting can become furious. I like the chapters on fundamental ethics. They get at the issues of consience and freedom that are behind the church's tough positions on human life and human love issues.

As a member of the loyal opposition, reading books on the pope has been a hobby of mine. On more than one occasion, I've been infuriated by some recent Vatican pronouncement, especially on moral issues. This collection of essays put the pope's theories in context. McDermott's historical piece showed how many of the moral conflicts in the church go back well before Vatican II. Apparently that gleaming, monolithic world of Pius XII wasn't as uniform as we thought. Madigan's piece showed why the church's counteroffensive against modernity, witness the new Catechism, will have a rough play in American society. After all the journalistic treatments of the pope, it's a relief to have real scholarship.

I especially liked the pluralism of the book. So many studies of the pope insist that he is an angel or a demon. The different authors here clearly differ on whether this pope is succeeding or not. Some of them bask in the papal glow, but most of them raise critical questions about the papal arguments.

I would not recommend this book as an introduction to the pope. Weigel's biography is a better pick for this. But if you're looking for a scholarly joust over John Paul II's moral positions, this is the book for you.

There's a lot of uninformed controversy over the moral teaching of John Paul II. Finally, a group of Jesuits (who else?) have clearly explained the teaching of the pope. This is a very fine study of the Pope's teachings on controversial issues: family planning, economics, religion and politics. There is a wide range of opinions, but most authors clearly support the Pope.

As a member of the loyal opposition, reading books on the pope has been a hobby of mine. On more than one occasion, I've been infuriated by some recent Vatican pronouncement, especially on moral issues. This collection of essays put the pope's theories in context. McDermott's historical piece showed how many of the moral conflicts in the church go back well before Vatican II. Apparently that gleaming, monolithic world of Pius XII wasn't as uniform as we thought. Madigan's piece showed why the church's counteroffensive against modernity, witness the new Catechism, will have a rough play in American society. After all the journalistic treatments of the pope, it's a relief to have real scholarship.

I especially liked the pluralism of the book. So many studies of the pope insist that he is an angel or a demon. The different authors here clearly differ on whether this pope is succeeding or not. Some of them bask in the papal glow, but most of them raise critical questions about the papal arguments.

I would not recommend this book as an introduction to the pope. Weigel's biography is a better pick for this. But if you're looking for a scholarly joust over John Paul II's moral positions, this is the book for you.

Here is a clear presentation of a black and white world for the rigid-minded person with great fear of ambiguity and human being. It is a beautiful system of thought, indeed. No holes. No nooks or crannies. Just an iron cage of moralizing, dressed up as scholarship, this book will provide any needy person with significant psychological boosts to her levels of cognitive rigidity, dogmatism, intolerance of any shades of gray in the world (or God's working in the world for that matter), and dependance on authority. Might appear to be sweet, like a cookie, like a black and white cookie that makes the world such a nice and orderly place....for children...or adults with arrested development. The world presented in these pages is a "world without twilight."

My suggestion: You probably already have a Bible. Read the Gospels. Save your money and keep browsing; this tired, righteous stuff is not worth your limited time.