Theological Dissent in Post-Vatican II Catholicism

This book examines the reality of theological dissent in the Catholic Church in the decades since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and its relation to the problematic search for certainty and doctrinal consistency in addressing the complexities of moral decision-making in the contemporary world.

Concern for the fundamental dignity of the human person, and the tension between obedience and the ultimate freedom in conscience of the believer, within the boundaries of the institution, have informed successive episodes of dissent and their attempted suppression in the post-Conciliar period. Neuralgic issues in sexual ethics, feminist theology, the role of women in the Church, and theologies of liberation have presented profound challenges to magisterial authority, resulting in a fracturing of the faith community and the persistence of a progressive/conservative divide. The Church’s Synodal turn, meanwhile, has presented new possibilities for a dialogical approach to dissent, emphasizing discernment and principles of participation and co-responsibility, focusing on a dialectical approach to unsettled questions, and inviting a diversity of theological expression. Equally, however, conservative dissent and entrenched opposition to the possibility of transposing hitherto adversarial postures into a more constructive and collaborative frame present a growing threat to unity, in a polarized world, now increasingly tempted by totalitarianism, and losing the capacity for constructive disagreement.

The book will be of particular interest to scholars and general readers in theology, ecclesiology and religious studies.