by John Thomas Noonan
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Book Description
"Having been an office neighbor of Judge John Noonan at the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress while this book was developing, I am delighted to see it in print. It is a careful and yet bold application of the concept of 'development of doctrine' to morals rather than to dogma, and a brilliant taxonomy of Christian attitudes toward slavery. The result of Judge Noonan's research is a deeper, if more complex, understanding of just what the continuity of the Orthodox-Catholic tradition implies. I look forward to discussing it with the author at greater length, and I cannot imagine any serious person who would not benefit from reading it." —Jaroslav Pelikan, Yale University Using concrete examples, John T. Noonan, Jr., demonstrates that the moral teaching of the Catholic Church has changed and continues to change without abandoning its foundational commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Specifically, Noonan looks at the profound changes that have occurred over the centuries in Catholic moral teaching on freedom of conscience, lending for a profit, and slavery. He also offers a close examination of the change now in progress concerning divorce. In these changes Noonan perceives the Catholic Church to be a vigorous, living organism answering new questions with new answers, and enlarging the capacity of believers to learn through experience and empathy what love demands. He contends that the impetus to change comes from a variety of sources, including prayer, meditation on Scripture, new theological insights and analyses, the evolution of human institutions, and the examples and instruction given by persons of good will. Noonan also states that the Church cannot change its commitment to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Given this absolute, how can the moral teaching of the Church change? Noonan finds this question unanswerable when asked in the abstract. But in the context of the specific facts and events he discusses in this book, an answer becomes clear. As our capacity to grasp the Gospel grows, so too, our understanding and compassion, which give life to the Gospel commandments of love, grow.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Raises more questions than answers, 2008-04-23
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The history of the church's positions on slavery, usury, and religious freedom are certainly revealing.
One thing that struck me is how many of these changes came to fruition in our own lifetimes and specifically in the Second Vatican Council. I agree with the author that few appreciate what a moral revolution that was.
I have a few criticisms of the book, however. The first has to do with Noonan's omission of the church's sustained persecution of pagan religions that went on for three centuries. According to some historians, it was a form of genocide. The church's use of homicide and torture as a standard mode of operation did not begin with the Inquisition in the 12th century.
Noonan also dismisses the ancient prescriptions of usury as "useless" and describes as "nostalgic" those who, like Peter Maurin and Jacques Maritain, state they are still of value. Karl Marx's definitive critique of how capitalism works can hardly be described as nostalgic. Half the people in the world today live in socialist countries with strong market controls This should give us pause before casually dismissing Aristotle's belief that interest unnaturally attributes to money a power it does not have. There are many today who question whether capitalism can provide a sustainable economy.
Noonan also fails even to mention the significance of the declaration of the infallibility of the Pope in 1870. He weasels around the issue of infallibility by claiming that most of the teachings of the church are not infallible. Whether one is speaking of the teaching authority of the Pope, the bishops, the council, or the whole church, the whole issue of infallibility is central to the ability of the church's ability to cope with change in the world.
What other books will have to investigate is where our moral values come from. As is evident from this book, the hierarchical apparatus of the Catholic Church did not lead the way in abolishing slavery or promoting religious freedom. Instead, it had to be dragged to the table. While we go to church expecting inspiration and guidance, it may be that the moral beliefs that really affect our lives come from other sources.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 The Question of Change in Moral Teaching, 2007-08-17
For one willing to read this book sentence by sentence, the reward is immense. The implications of Noonan's conclusions are in fact shattering. But Noonan speaks in a soft voice. His examination of moral theology throughout Chrisitan history is meticulous and brilliant. He is straightforward, uncompromising and above all clear. His study is graceful as well as intelligent, elegant as well as penetrating, and his findings compel us to examine our theological inheritance with a conscience. Quote from the book: "Change is not a thing to be ashamed of, to be whispered about, to be disguised or held from the light of day, as grave guardians sometimes think." A challenging and encouraging work.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
A Church That Can And Cannot Change: The Development of Catholic Moral Teaching , 2006-08-18
I thought the section on slavery was a little long and would like to have seen the last chapter added to with his thoughts on modern ethical issues. I will again review it with my thoughts but the author would have helped my thinking. Hopefully there will be another book!
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
A scholarly and innovative modern approach to the teachings of Catholic fundamentals within the context of the modern church, 2006-04-08
A Church That Can And Cannot Change: The Development Of Catholic Moral Teaching by John T. Noonan, Jr. (Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, California) is a scholarly and innovative modern approach to the teachings of Catholic fundamentals within the context of the modern church. Offering the reader a comprehensive introduction of the teachings of the church as they pertain to issues of freedom and conscience, lending for a profit, and the condition of slavery, A Church That Can And Cannot Change offers a detailed and specific analysis of the particulars in the ideals and progressive evolution of the Catholic Church. A Church That Can And Cannot Change is very highly recommended reading for seminary students, the clergy, the laity, interested in Catholic theology, ideals of moral, developmental, and ethical teachings.
7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Premier Analysis of the Premier Problem, 2006-02-24
How do doctrinal changes or developments happen in a church that must accomodate insights accumulated over time and within cultures newly encountered? John Thomas Noonan, a layman and a great legal scholar, confronts the discontinuities in Catholic teaching with candor and insight. Theologians and involved Catholics of all persuations will find the book helpful and challenging. He concentrates on specific issues such as slavery, marriage, and usury and then moves to a theory that will surprise many because it is so obvious but so ignored by professional theologians and teachers. A must read.
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