Moral Wisdom: Lesson and Text from the Catholic Tradition

by James F. Keenan

At a time when religion and spirituality have been divorced from one another and morality and ethics are viewed as being confining rather than liberating, Fr. James Keenan offers an accessible book that beautifully reclaims the Catholic moral tradition and casts it afresh for a new age. "Moral wisdom," as Fr. Keenan calls it, is the distinctive gift of the Catholic tradition, a gift that helps us discern what values to pursue and which virtues to embody on the path to becoming who we really are and who God calls us to be.

Writing in a conversational style filled with stories and examples, Keenan goes beyond the penitential, confessional, and moral manuals that too often define public perception of moral teaching and breaks open the treasure trove of resources in the Catholic tradition for developing moral wisdom. In the process, he reclaims four key texts that bishops and lay people alike appealed to in nurturing their moral wisdom—the person of Jesus in the New Testament, the ten commandments in the catechism, the practice of the corporal works of mercy, and the development of the four cardinal virtues—and lifts up the lessons on love, conscience, sin, and suffering within these texts that form the content of the Catholic moral tradition. By reflecting on each of these texts and lessons, readers get into contact once again with the formative influences of the Catholic heritage and appreciate and understand what gives meaning to our lives and what enhances our relationships with friends and family.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality, Religion

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2004

About the author

James F. Keenan, S.J.
EDUCATION
STL, STD, Gregorian University, Rome
MDiv, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA
BA, Fordham University, New York

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Jim Keenan has been a Jesuit of the New York Province since 1970 and an ordained priest since 1982.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

university ethics, fundamental moral theology; history of theological ethics; Thomas Aquinas; virtue ethics; HIV/AIDS; Church leadership ethics

TEACHING

Fundamental Moral Theology
Virtue Ethics
Twentieth Century Catholic Moral Theology
New Testament and Ethics
The Church and Ethics: Contemporary and Historical Cases
The Human Body
The Ethics of Thomas Aquinas
Ethical Issues of HIV/AIDS
Genetics Seminar
Catholic Theological Ethics, twelfth through eighteenth centuries
John and Virtue Ethics

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS

Founders Professor, Boston College, 2008-2014.
Founder and Co-Chair, Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church. 2003-
Board of Directors, Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA). 2012-2014
Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh.
Fellow, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton.
Grant and Faculty Fellowship, Association of Theological Schools.
Tuohy Chair, John Carroll University.
Gasson Chair, Boston College.
Alpha Sigma Nu National Book Award (2002) Catholic Ethicists on HIV/AIDS
Prevention.
Consultant to National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Revision of the Ethical Guidelines for Catholic Health Care Institutions. 1988-1995
Editorial Board Member of Theological Studies. 1991-2013
Series Editor, Moral Traditions, Georgetown University Press. 1993-2013
Chair, Catholic Theological Coalition on HIV/AIDS Prevention. 1997-
Board of Trustees, John Carroll University. 1999-2002
Group Leader, Surgeon General’s Task Force on Responsible Sexual Conduct. 2000-2002
Advisor, Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance. 2000-
Board of Directors, Society of Christian Ethics. 2001-2004
Chair, Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church. 2003-
Adjunct Professor, Gregorian University, Rome: Loyola School of Theology, Manila.
Adjunct Professor, Dharmaran, Bangalore.


BOOKS

University Ethics: Why Colleges Need A Culture of Ethics, Rowman and Littlefield, May 2015. (forthcoming)

Paul and Virtue Ethics with Daniel Harrington (New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2010).

Catholic Theological Ethics, Past, Present, and Future: The Trento Conference edited (Orbis, 2011); (Bangalore: Theological Publications in India, 2012). (Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2013).

A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century: From Confessing Sins to Liberating Consciences (New York: Continuum, 2010).

more info:

http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/theolog...

Reviews

[Pete Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A accessible book of inspiring Catholic wisdom. Turned me on to: the layered depths of the Good Samaritan parable, a new way to understand mercy (entering into the chaos of others), the meaning of fidelity, and more.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually one of my textbooks for Spring Hill College and I loved it so much I bought and finished it on my own. Keenan's insight is truly amazing. It offers a completely new way of looking at Moral Theology than I've ever seen.

[Anna Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another read that started out for my thesis and I just couldn’t put down. Keenan really hits home on dissecting the depth behind biblical texts in a way that makes you really think! Wordy, but really good stuff.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an EXCELLENT book, especially for understanding more about morality in the spiritual sense, as opposed (or in addition to) ethical sense. It is not too hard of a read, I would recommend to anyone really trying to get a handle on the Catholic Faith.

[Ben Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Fr. Keenan does a wonderful job of explaining sin, virtue, conscience, suffering, etc and it challenged me greatly to grow in virtue. He is creative, honest, and faithful to the Church. This book is solid.

[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book- great stories, quick reading... really makes you think about morality and ethics in a different way.