These essays are an attempt to recover something of the form, style and
force of Catholic non-official social thinking in the face of
contemporary social thought and contemporary injustice in advanced
societies. After an opening essay by the doyen of Catholic writers in
this field, Jean-Yves Calvez, SJ, the book is divided into three
sections. The first and largest group of essays discuss patterns and
predicaments of Catholic social thought in general terms and from
different points of view. The context here is partly the debate on
modernity, high-modernity and post-modernity, partly the issue of how
far and in what ways Catholic Social Thought can claim to be
distinctive, relative to contemporary secular thought. The second
section of the book focusses on relationships between Catholic social
thought and its restatement, and a number of contemporary debates on
public issues. Particular attention is given, in successive essays, to
issues of anti-poverty, human rights, economic theory and international
finance. A third and shorter section describes a number of institutional
projects which attempt to carry Catholic social values forward into
concrete action, focussing on work in health and welfare, grass roots
economic co-operation, anti-poverty and international peace and justice.
Final contributions by the reputed international scholar in this field,
John Coleman, SJ, and the book editors, respectively evaluate the
collection as a whole and discuss further steps.
