Moral Theology for the 21st Century: Essays in Celebration of Kevin T. Kelly

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This book is a tribute to Kevin Kelly, who has been one of the most influential British theologians for a number of decades. On its own merits, however, it is groundbreaking collection of essays on key themes, issues and concepts in contemporary moral theology and Christian ethics. The focus is on perspectives to inform moral debate and discernment in the future. The main themes covered are shown in the list of contents below. Several of the of the contributors are from the United States, three others live and work in Continental Europe and the rest are from various parts of the British Isles. Many of the authors are among the best known in their fields on both sides of the Atlantic.

Reviews

'The essays are essentially honest enquiries, seeking to shed some light on some of the most pressing moral issues of our time, such as divorce and second marriage, homosexuality, the relationship between conscience and authority. While at times they disagree with official Church teaching, it is always with a respectful and scholarly concern for the Christian tradition and a willingness to learn from others, both Christian and non-Christian.' Kevin Dean -- Kevin Dean
"As a public voice honoring the life and work of Kevin Kelly, this collection raises the bar on what such Festschriften can achieve...This Festschrift not only introduces readers to Kelly's wide range of influence (at least in the English-speaking world), but it also suggests that members of the guild commit to dialogically probe the depths of the tradition, to bring more experiences to the table, and to collaborate in finding what matters most in and for the real world." -Mary Jo Iozzio, Theological Studies, Sept. 2009
"This collection offers meaningful theological reflection and insights for undertaking moral theology in the twenty-first century." -Kathryn Lilla Cox, Worship, Vol. 83, July 2009
Title reviewed by Peter Mullen in Catholic Herald, 2008.
"The book's unity and strength arise from several elements. Most of the essays in some way challenge the magisterial status quo and all of them reflect directly or indirectly Kelly's concerns and influence. Most importantly, however, the essays share a pastoral sensibility - a concern for the person that is stronger than that the concern for doctrinal purity - that derives from Kelly himself. The challenges to the church's treatment of, for instance, the AIDS crisis and its attending controversies are rooted in the actual lives of those most affected. Kelly's conviction that the moral theologian must work with the heart of a pastor is evident throughout the book. No prior familiarity with Kelly's work is necessary to learn from these essays, but it is unlikely that many will finish the book without then reaching soon for Kelly's own work." --Eric Biddy, Anglican Theological Review 92:1 -- Eric Biddy * Anglican Theological Review *
As such, the volume includes rigorous, pastorally-sensitive essays on a multitude of specific areas: sexual complementarity, contraception, homosexuality, animal ethics, HIV/AIDS, ecclesiological issues such as ecumenism, and many more. Usefully, however, it also contains what might be called meta-ethical reflections, such as those on the nature of conscience, doctrine, and moral theology itself.' Susannah Cornwall -- Susannah Cornwall * Reviews in Religion and Theology *
'This Festschrift not only introduces readers to Kelly's wide range of influence (at least in the English-speaking world), but it also suggests that members of the guild commit to dialogically probe the depths of the tradition, to bring more experiences to the table, and to collaborate in flnding what matters most in and for the real world. With these issues inmind, the collection will be helpful in a graduate course dedicated to the principal preoccupations of moral theology since Vatican 11.' Mary Jo Iozzio, Barry University, Miami Shores, Fla. -- Mary Jo Iozzio * Theological Studies *

Author Bio

Bernard Hoose lectures in Christian Ethics at Heythrop College, University of London, UK. His publications include Proportionalism: The American Debate and its European Roots, (Georgetown University Press) 1987, Received Wisdom Reviewing the Role of Tradition in Christian Ethics (Geoffrey Chapman, 1994). He is editor of Christian Ethics: An Introduction (Cassell, 1998), Authority in the Roman Catholic Church (Ashgate, 2002) and Authority in Roman Catholicism (Matthew James, 2002). He presently serves on the Theology Commission of Caritas-Social Action. Julie Clague is a lecturer in Catholic theology in the University of Glasgow. She has written numerous articles and has been co-editor of the journal Feminist Theology since 1993. She has also been co-editor of the journal Political Theology since 2005. She serves on the steering committee of the American Academy of Religion: Ecclesiological Investigations Programme unit, and is an elected member of the Niebuhr Society. Dr. Clague is also a founder member of the International Association for Catholic Social Thought, and a member of the Theological Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales agency, Caritas-Social Action. Additionally, she works as a theologian with the Catholic international aid agencies CAFOD and SCIAF and serves on the theological panel of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Edinburgh University. Dr. Clague is also the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of the Assisted Conception Service of Greater Glasgow NHS Trust. 'Gerard Mannion is the Amaturo Professor in Catholic Studies at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, where he is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. He serves as chair of the Ecclesiological Investigations International Research Network (www.ei-research.net) and is editor of the Bloomsbury Series, Ecclesiological Investigations'