Unlocking the Church's Best Kept Secret: Principles for the Interpretation, Communication, and Praxi
Unlocking the Church's Best Kept Secret: Principles for the Interpretation, Communication, and Praxi
SKU:PB-10-42690
Couldn't load pickup availability
In stock
Many books and articles are written about official Catholic social thought, but excellent critical studies of its methodology in the light of contemporary philosophical thinking are scarce. With this book, written in a genuine liberation perspective, Aloysius Cartagenas fills a gap. His book is a must-read for every Catholic scholar and social activist who seeks to understand and respond to the challenges of contemporary Catholic social thought.
Prof. Dr. Johan Verstraeten
Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies
Catholic University of Leuven
Few of us have thought of applying the historical-critical study of the Bible to the Catholc Church’s social teaching. This body of teachings has always been surrounded by the aura of infallibility and its formulation shrouded in secrecy, prompting the label “the Church’s best kept secret.” Moreover, it has been recently compiled into an official compendium of social doctrines ready for application throughout the world.
Applying the methods of biblical scholarships, the author rejects this view and argues that “both the ‘Catholic social teaching’ and the ‘Catholic social thought and praxis’ that make up the one Catholic Social Tradition is rather in a period of transition. It will not be open to a new future unless it courageously faces up to the challenges of interpretation, communication, and practice.” He takes us along in the study of these three challenges using three guidelines: the insights of Paul Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation, Jürgen Habermas’s study of communicative reason and action, and finally Alasdair MacIntyre’s development of a theory of practice. The overall result is fascinating as the author proposes three corresponding sets of principles crucial to “unlocking” the future of the Catholic Social Tradition.
The book is a fruit of enormous study and dedicated labor. I highly recommend it and join the author’s “prophetic-utopian” and “praxis-prescriptive” call to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).
- Free shipping on US orders over $150 (NJ stock only)
- Ships from New Jersey or Manila, whichever location has stock is and is closer. See options at checkout.
Author:
Publisher: Ateneo University Press
Year:
Condition: New
Cover:
Language: English
ISBN:
Return Policy: Let us know within 14 days of receiving your order to receive store credit.
Shipping: We ship globally. Message us if you do not see your country at checkout. See FAQs below for more info.
Share
FAQs
Where do you ship from?
We ship from two locations, Manila and New Jersey. Your books are always sent from wherever they are currently in stock. If an order includes books from both locations, we usually combine everything into one shipment to reduce packing waste. If you would prefer items to be sent separately, just let us know. We are happy to accommodate.
You can read our shipping policy here.
What are your shipping options?
For books shipping from New Jersey, we offer USPS Media Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and USPS Priority Mail. For non US addresses, we ship via DHL.
For books shipping from Manila to the US, you can choose between two options.
Express: Your book ships directly to you via DHL. This is the fastest option.
No Rush: Your book is included in our regular shipment from Manila to NJ. Once it arrives in NJ, we ship it to you right away via USPS. This option takes longer but helps keep shipping costs lower.
For non US addresses, we ship via the Express option.
You can read our shipping policy here.
How can I reduce my shipping fee?
One important thing to know is that we do not make any profit on shipping. We simply charge what our couriers charge us. Because we ship in bulk, we often receive discounted rates, and we pass those savings directly on to you. Our goal is always to get your books to you as affordably and responsibly as possible.
If you are ever unsure which option to choose, or if timing matters for a specific order, please reach out. We're happy to help.
What is your return policy?
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will be pleased to issue store credit within 14 days of order fulfillment.
- Sale items and gift cards are final sale.
- We do not give refunds except in cases where we have made an error. If we made a mistake, we will rectify the error and refund reasonable return shipping expenses you incur.
- If you wish to cancel your online order for any reason, you will receive store credit, not a refund.
You can read our full return policy here.
Can you help me find books not offered in your shop?
We offer a free book search service. Give us the details of the book (title, author, publisher, year) and we will look for it for you. If we find it, we will give you a quote so you can decide whether to move forward or not. There is no obligation to make the purchase.
Do you ship to my country?
Yes, we ship globally. If you do not see your country as an option at checkout, please let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.