Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ 1st Edition

"Cavanaugh begins with an engrossing analysis of the dynamics oftorture and disappearance as a mode disciplining the body politic.He judiciously uses psychological and social scientific sourceswithout letting them override the theological focus of the book. Hethen gives an equally engrossing account of the Church in Chileunder Pinochet. His analyses both of Maritain and the 'NewChristendom' ecclesiology provide as interesting critique of thefailures of the Church to respond to Pinochet's repression, whilehis concluding chapter on eucharistic theology points towards thesource of the successful responses made by the Church. Particularlyuseful and interesting is the way in which eucharistic theology istied to concrete eucharistic practice. The book is extremely wellwritten and engaging." Frederick C. Bauerschmidt, Loyola Collagein Maryland

"This is a very important book. It should be mandatory readingfor anybody concerned with the issue of torture, and will be ofvital interest to all those of us involved in Amnesty Internationaland human rights organisations. It has an appeal and a significancefar beyond the classroom. Though it is much more theological thanHelen Prejean, in its narrative power it has some affinities withDead Man Walking and will likewise speak to those outsidethe church." T. J. Gorringe, University of St Andrews

"Torture and Eucharist not only has superb qualities as atextbook, but is an outstanding piece of creative ecclesiology.Drawing on the work of scholars such as Milbank, Hauerwas,MacIntryre and Lindbeck, Cavanaugh moves ecclesiology out of therealm of the abstract ands ideal into the real world where theChristian Church must struggle to witness to the gospel. In doingso he shifts the Church into a new and much more exciting area ofinquiry" Nicholas Healy, St Johns University, New York

"Cavanaugh's achievement is remarkable: profound theology linkedwith interviews and close social analysis, stimulating argument,and a tight yet imaginative writing style. The book deserves a wideaudience." L. Gregory Jone The Divinity School, DukeUniversity

"Why read such a book?....Here is authentic backgroundinformation relating to the possible extradition and further trialof General Pinochet.....Here is reflection on the church'stheological temptation to separate soul from body, spiritual frompolitical."Eleanor Kreider, lecturer in Worship and liturgy, RPCOxford

"The author... offers an elegantly written reflection on Church,Eucharist, and the politics within the context of the Pinochetregime following the overthrow of Allende in Chile."FirstThings

"This is theology made flesh in the story of Pinochet'sChile....I greatly acknowledge that it is a great measure of thesuccess of the book that it causes such unease."Peter Cornwell,The Tablet

"His analysis is a closely disciplined, well informed study ofthe self-discernment and conduct of the Roman Catholic Church underthe Pinochet regime in Chile...I found this a hard read, butbreath-taking. I have not read anything in a long time that somoved, so disturbed, and so educated." Walter Brueggeman,Columbia Theological Seminary, Theology Today

"...the book has broadened my understanding of the theo-politicsof torture. Those who are working against the practice of torturewill benefit from reading this well-written book." Eleazar S.Fernandez, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities inReligious Studies Review

"Cavanaugh's book combines narrative and argument, isbeautifully written and presents us with a creative ecclesiology."International Journal in Philosophy and Theology

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In this engrossing analysis, Cavanaugh contends that the Eucharistis the Church's response to the use of torture as a socialdiscipline. The author develops a theology of the political whichpresents torture as one instance of a larger confrontation ofpowers over bodies, both individual and social. He argues that aChristian practice of the political is embodied in Jesus' owntorture at the hands of the powers of this world. The analysis oftorture therefore is situated within wider discussions in thefields of ecclesiology and the state, social ethics and humanrights, and sacramental theology.

The book focuses on the experience of Chile and the CatholicChurch there, before and during the military dictatorship ofGeneral Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, 1973-1990. Cavanaugh hasfirst-hand experience of working with the Church in Chile, and hisinterviews with ecclesiastical officials and grassroots Churchworkers speak directly to the reader. The book uses this example toexamine the theoretical bases of twentieth-century "socialcatholicism" and its inability to resist the disciplines of thestate, in contrast to a truer Christian practice of the politicalin the Eucharist.

The book as a whole ties eucharistic theology to concreteeucharistic practice, showing that the Eucharist is not a "symbol"but a real cathartic summary of the practices by which God formspeople into the Body of Christ, producing a sense of communionstronger than that of any nation-state.