Customer Reviews

Sexuality and Catholicism

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Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It had some very interesting chapters, like those on homosexuality and self-love, and they were very informative for a Catholic Teen like myself. The book helped to clear up a lot of grey areas, but also presented others that the Church has not made a stake in yet. It cited a lot of history, if you care for that, and gave reasons why the Church's thinking was both wrong and right. A good read for curious Catholics.

Thomas Fox does a great job of introducing the foundations and scope of Catholic moral theology. Although I was already familiar with many of the historical and theological data on this topic, I found this book very helpful in clarifying concepts that are presented more technically in moral theology textbooks. I would recommend it as a supplementary resource, much like using a bible commentary in a scripture course. Fox's many years as a noted publisher, editor and reporter establish his credibility in researching and writing on the topics he presents. The book is well documented and has a detailed index.

I like the adequate attention to the historical background and developments in Catholic church teaching on the more commonly discussed moral issues. The treatment of birth control and Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae encyclical, abortion, homosexuality and non-marital sexual behavior is done in a respectful and professional manner, while acknowledging diverse or dissenting interpretations of moral teachings on these matters.

Although not a moral issue of the same genre as those mentioned above, the chapter on "Women and the Church" is very appropriately included within the scope of the book. Fox presents a helpful and balanced discussion of the nuances of "feminism" and its implications for women's participation in the church, including the controversies regarding ordination of women. I recommend his discussion of the lengthy stuggles (and eventual failure) of the U.S. bishops to write and publish a pastoral letter on women in the church during the ten years following 1983 - especially how the Vatican's interventions hampered this endeavor.

While in vitro fertilization, embryonic stem-cell research and end-of-life issues have become prominent since publication of this book (and are not discussed), nevertheless, Fox provides sufficient moral theology background to non-professional readers to grapple with these issues.