A Christian Theology of Marriage and Family

by Rubio, Julie Hanlon

• ISBN13: 9780809141180
• ISBN10: 0809141183
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Paulist Pr

Summary

What are Christian families called to be and do in contemporary society? Weaving together theology, social science, and her experience as a wife and mother, Julie Hanlon Rubio answers this provocative and timely question. She explores the marriage liturgy, the New Testament and Christian tradition and then reflects on the the ways Christian husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children can live out their vocations in changing times. She concludes with chapters on divorce and the mission of the family.

Relevant, academically oriented yet popularly written, and filling a need by its attention to family issues, this book will make an ideal text for courses in:

-- marriage.

-- family ethics.

-- social justice.

-- Christian ethics.

Author Biography

Julie Hanlon Rubio is assistant professor of moral theology at Saint Louis University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
PART ONE FOUNDATIONS
Family or Families? The Problems of Parenting in a Postmodern Age	3	(22)
What Is a Family?	3	(7)
Feminist Questioning of the Family	10	(3)
Christian Theology: Family or Families?	13	(10)
Listening to Families; Talking about ``the Family''	23	(1)
Discussion Questions	24	(1)
The Catholic Marriage Liturgy: A Different Vision of Marriage	25	(20)
Reading the Popular Wedding	26	(3)
Limitations of the Popular Wedding	29	(2)
A Brief History of the Christian Wedding	31	(2)
Reading the New Catholic Guidelines for Weddings	33	(4)
Theology behind the New Marriage Liturgy	37	(6)
Discussion Questions	43	(2)
New Testament Vision	45	(20)
What Will We Read?	45	(1)
Reading the New Testament	46	(2)
Jesus as Model: Leaving Family Behind	48	(1)
Jesus' Message: Questioning the Primacy of Family Ties	49	(5)
Early Christian Practice: A New Kind of Family	54	(6)
Why Celibacy?	60	(2)
Return to Family?	62	(2)
Discussion Questions	64	(1)
Traditional Ways of Speaking about Marriage	65	(24)
Domus	65	(1)
The Legacy of the First Christians	66	(7)
From Contract to Sacrament	73	(2)
Protestant Models: Social Estate and Covenant	75	(3)
Marriage as Relationship	78	(6)
Marriage as Communion	84	(1)
Discussion Questions	85	(4)
PART TWO APPLICATIONS
The Dual Vocation of Christian Parents	89	(22)
Lame Parents	89	(3)
Sacrificing for Children	92	(4)
Sacrificing for the World	96	(2)
Dual Vocation	98	(1)
Work	99	(6)
Family	105	(3)
Dual Vocation with Caution	108	(2)
Discussion Questions	110	(1)
Mothering in Christian Families	111	(18)
Waiting in the Park	111	(1)
Mothering in the Thought of John Paul II	112	(5)
Theologians and Motherhood	117	(6)
Reading the Pope into Dialogue with Theologians	123	(1)
The Search for a Mother-God	124	(3)
Can a Mother Have a Self?	127	(1)
Discussion Questions	128	(1)
Fathering in Christian Families	129	(17)
Dominic's Doll	129	(1)
A Brief History of Fatherhood	130	(2)
What Modern Fathers Do	132	(2)
What Can Fathers Do?	134	(2)
Effects of Fathers' Involvement on Children	136	(2)
God the Father Reconsidered	138	(5)
Bringing God the Father Home	143	(2)
Discussion Questions	145	(1)
Welcoming the Children	146	(19)
Stephen's Theological Dilemmas	146	(1)
What Do Children Need?	147	(4)
The Child as Model of Discipleship	151	(3)
Caring for Children: Godparents and Other-Mothers	154	(3)
Children as Disciples	157	(6)
Discussion Questions	163	(2)
Divorce and Remarriage in Christian Families	165	(18)
Tensions in an Age of Divorce	165	(1)
What Did Jesus Say and How Much Does It Matter?	166	(4)
Catholic Teaching on Divorce and Its Critics	170	(2)
Effects of Divorce on Children	172	(5)
Pastoral Issues: Remarriage and Communion	177	(1)
Obligations during and after Divorce	178	(2)
Domestic Church Reconsidered	180	(2)
Discussion Questions	182	(1)
What Is Family For?	183	(18)
Justice and Passion	183	(3)
Catholic Social Teaching and the Family	186	(2)
Work	188	(3)
Time	191	(2)
Money	193	(3)
The Family Meal	196	(3)
Discussion Questions	199	(2)
Notes	201	(24)
Bibliography	225	(12)
Index	237