Misguided Morality

by Winter, Michael M.

• ISBN13: 9780754607410
• ISBN10: 0754607410
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-10-01
• Publisher: Ashgate Pub Ltd

Summary

Misguided Morality presents a survey of how the Catholic moral programme has failed to make a decisive impact on the behaviour of the Church's members. Despite a cogent theology of human conduct, Michael Winter argues that its effectiveness is not impressive. This book analyses what has gone wrong in the transmission of the New Testament ideals. The book covers the whole field of morality, starting with the bible and tracing the historical and sociological factors which have effected the dilution of those ideals, frequently to the level of anodyne respectability. Having explored the causes of failure, Winter offers positive suggestions for improvement in each area where shortcomings have been revealed. Combining loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church, with constructive criticism of shortcomings in implementing moral policies, this book is essential reading to those studying and participating in Catholic moral teaching in the contemporary church. Michael M. Winter is well known for his books on the challenges to the Church after Vatican II, including his books Mission or Maintenance, and Whatever Happened to Vatican II.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Abbreviations	ix
Introduction	xi
Getting Started	1	(32)
How to Keep Going	33	(8)
The Mainstream	41	(18)
Get Religion into Politics	59	(6)
Justice is the World	65	(26)
Justice in the Church	91	(34)
The Vatican's Reason for Retaining Compulsory Clerical Celibacy	107	(8)
Procedures Against Suspect Theologians	115	(10)
Obedience or Subservience	125	(28)
Truthfulness	153	(16)
Is Bravery Virtuous?	169	(24)
Healthy Restraint	193	(16)
Epilogue	209	(14)
Bibliography	223	(6)
Index	229