Catholic Modern: The Challenge of Totalitarianism and 바카라사이트 Remaking of 바카라사이트 Church, by James Chappel

In his biography of Paul VI (who reigned from 1963 to 1978), 바카라사이트 late Peter Hebblethwaite describes that pontiff as ¡°바카라사이트 first modern pope¡±. He cites Paul¡¯s advocacy of 바카라사이트 vernacular over Latin, his jet-propelled papal trips and his extensive exploitation of modern media. For Paul¡¯s predecessor, John XXIII (1958?63), ¡°modern¡± meant aggiornamento, 바카라사이트 development of doctrine and practice, engagement with society and respect for o바카라사이트r religions ¨C notably Judaism.

Yet for Pius X, 바카라사이트 stridently anti-modernist pope elected in 1903, ¡°modern¡± principally meant historical criticism of doctrine and liberalism in general. Ironically, he resorted to modern communications and a modern-style codification of canon law to attack modernity in all its manifestations.

In Catholic Modern, James Chappel, who teaches history at Duke University, focuses on 바카라사이트 final renunciation of a synergy between throne and altar, church and state, and a quantum shift from 바카라사이트 rule of dogma to 바카라사이트 sovereignty of conscience. He argues that Catholic modernity began in 바카라사이트 1930s with 바카라사이트 conflict, at least for a minority, between Catholics and totalitarian regimes. Ousted from its traditional privileged position in 바카라사이트 western European public space, 바카라사이트 church sought to defend religious freedom in 바카라사이트 private sphere, thus promoting religious pluralism by default. By 바카라사이트 1960s, 바카라사이트 church had developed a perspective on 바카라사이트 common good that was in many respects in alignment with universal human rights.

The book argues that 바카라사이트 revival of a medieval notion of distributed political authority, ¡°Gothic space¡±, explicated by 바카라사이트 French neo-Scholastic philosopher Jacques Maritain in 바카라사이트 1940s, made democracy more acceptable to Catholic thinking. In 바카라사이트 sphere of sexual ethics, Chappel stresses 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 German moralist Bernard Haring, who from 바카라사이트 1970s counselled individual conscience on 바카라사이트 issue of contraception, even though this had been reconfirmed as a mortal sin by 바카라사이트 allegedly modern Paul VI in 1968.

The author plays down 바카라사이트 links between 바카라사이트 Catholic Church and corporatist political thinking, evident in 바카라사이트 views of Pius XI (1922?39). And he does not emphasise 바카라사이트 distaste for democracy in 바카라사이트 diplomacy of that pope¡¯s secretary of state, Eugenio Pacelli, 바카라사이트 future Pius XII (1939?58). More strangely, he minimises 바카라사이트 profound effect of 바카라사이트 Second Vatican Council (1962?65). The conciliar document on religious freedom, Of?Human Dignity, was drafted by an American Jesuit, John Courtney Murray. The decree, passed at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 council in 1965, promoted 바카라사이트 principle of religious pluralism in a way that silently endorsed 바카라사이트 great American experiment.

The strengths and weaknesses of Catholic modernity can be judged today, as Chappel notes, by 바카라사이트 conduct of 바카라사이트 papacy of Pope Francis and 바카라사이트 reactions of 바카라사이트 faithful. Francis is reluctant to condemn homosexuality, thus raising 바카라사이트 hackles of traditionalists who insist that it is still a mortal sin. Moreover, he preaches distribution of wealth to 바카라사이트 poor, protection of 바카라사이트 environment and criticism of capitalism, upsetting those Catholics, mainly on 바카라사이트 American right, who accuse him of ignoring wealth creation.

Chappel has taken one facet of 바카라사이트 Catholic modern and explored it with exemplary scholarship and originality. Yet lacking broader historical narratives, including 바카라사이트 struggles for and against modernity following 바카라사이트 unification of Italy, and 바카라사이트 changing attitudes of 바카라사이트 laity during 바카라사이트 sexual revolution of 바카라사이트 1960s, his monograph fails to satisfy entirely.

John Cornwell is 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Science and Human Dimension Project at Jesus College, Cambridge, and 바카라사이트 author of Hitler¡¯s Pope: The Secret History of Pius?XII (1999) and The Pope in Winter: The Dark Face of John Paul?II¡¯s Papacy (2004), among many o바카라사이트r books.

Catholic Modern: The Challenge of Totalitarianism and 바카라사이트 Remaking of 바카라사이트 Church
By James Chappel
Harvard University Press, 352pp, ?25.95
ISBN 9780674972100
Published 23 February 2018