July 2003
 

CONTENTS

July 2003


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Doing and thinking
The Editors

Jerome Murphy-O’Connor OP

The Holy Land is claimed by Jew, Christian and Muslim, and is the scene of dangerous conflict. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor is Professor at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem and author of The Holy Land (OUP 4th Edn 1998). Here he explains why this land is holy to three religions and how conflict arises when ‘in space that is “holy” the other has no rights’.

The dawn of the clone age?
Celia Deane-Drummond

Cloning raises many difficult questions for ethics. Celia Deane-Drummond, who is Professor of Theology and the Biological Sciences at Chester College, addresses some of these and places the scientific issue in a larger context of wisdom: ‘Science can then exist not so much in detachment from religious concerns…but in partnership for the wider good of society.’

The Jews, the Bible and the Church
Adrian Graffy

A new document has been produced by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which at a critical time may encourage better relations between Christians and Jews. Adrian Graffy, a lecturer in Scripture at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, sets out its main contentions.

Evangelisation: readers respond

How do we evangelise today? This was the subject of our October 2002 issue. It included, among other articles, one by Philip Knights on the situation of evangelisation today and another, on the RCIA, by Ursula Leahy. A parish and a deanery were invited to respond to the challenges which were raised. Their reports are published below. We would welcome any other responses to this most urgent mission of the Church in our day.

The unrecognised celibate PASTORALIA
Joyce White

The single unmarried adult, with no vowed commitment of celibacy, has no status in the Church. Joyce White suggests some ways in which the Church could meet the needs of this numerous but unrecognised group that ‘would enhance the spiritual life, growth and gifts of lay celibates; [and] the Church in return would receive the benefits of their enrichment’.

Preaching and teaching the Word
Philip Caldwell

Philip Caldwell teaches at St Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw, and here offers some reflections on the lectionary readings for the Sundays and Solemnities in August.

Getting to know St Augustine
Margaret Atkins

St Augustine has had an enormous influence on Christianity. In this review article Margaret Atkins, who teaches Theology at Trinity and All Saints College, University of Leeds, looks at some recent writings which can help us to deepen our knowledge of this great saint.

There’s life in the Dumb Ox yet
Vivian Boland OP

How does one of the greatest of theologians speak to us today? Vivian Boland, an Irish Dominican who teaches moral theology in Oxford and London, presents, in this review article, four recent books on St Thomas Aquinas which show that still ‘his bellowing will be heard all over Europe’ .

Postyscript: Postscript: Catholic Church, plc?
Clare Watkins



Books

   REVIEWED BY HENRY WANSBROUGH OSB
The Future of Catholic Biblical Scholarship: a constructive conversation
Luke Timothy Johnson and William S. Kurz
Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002, £17.99
Tablet Bookshop Price: £ Tel: 01420 592 974
   REVIEWED BY AIDAN NICHOLS OP
The Bishops
Trevor Beeson
SCM Press, £19.95
Tablet Bookshop Price: £ Tel: 01420 592 974
   REVIEWED BY AIDAN NICHOLS OP
God Save the Queen: the spiritual dimension of monarchy
Ian Bradley
Darton, Longman and Todd, £14.95
Tablet Bookshop Price: £ Tel: 01420 592 974
   REVIEWED BY THOMAS G. WEINANDY OFM CAP
The Councils of the Church: a short history
Norman P. Tanner
Crossroad Publishing, £16.99
Tablet Bookshop Price: £ Tel: 01420 592 974
   REVIEWED BY SEAN CONNOLLY
God Underneath: spiritual memoirs of a Catholic priest
Edward L. Beck
An Image Book , £9.57
Tablet Bookshop Price: £ Tel: 01420 592 974