The polarization in the Church today can be traced back to a more fundamental crisis in theology, one which has failed to connect our mundane experiences and the mysteries of the Christian faith with the person of Jesus Christ. Ecclesial discourse on the so-called 'hot- button issues' of the day too often take place without considering the foundation and goal of the Church. And this is unfortunately due to a similar tendency in the academic theology that informs that ecclesial discourse. In short, much of post-conciliar Catholic theology is adrift, floating aimlessly away from the center of the Christian faith, who is Christ. The Center is Jesus Christ Himself is a collection of essays which anchor theological reflection in Jesus Christ. These diverse essays share a unified focal point, but engage with a variety of theological subdisciplines (e.g., dogmatic, moral, Biblical, etc.), areas (e.g., Christology, Pneumatology, missiology, etc.), and periods (e.g., patristic, medieval, and modern). Given the different combinations of sub-disciplines, areas, and periods, theology is susceptible to fragmentation when it is not held together by some principle of unity. A theology in which the person of Jesus Christ serves as that principle of unity is a Christocentric theology. Together, the essays illustrate not only what Christocentric theology looks like, but also what the consequences are when Christ is dislodged from the center, whether by a conspicuous silence on, or by a relativization of, his unique salvific mission. The volume is published in honor of Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology at Boston College, Rev. Dr. Robert P. Imbelli, who dedicated his teaching and writing to bringing Christ back to the center of Catholic theological discourse.

The Prophetic Church: History and Doctrinal Development in John Henry Newman and Yves Congar is a historical and a systematic account of tradition, doctrinal development, and the theology of history, with a particular focus on the contributions of two modern Catholic figures, John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and Yves Congar (1904-1995). It is structured around two overarching themes: the 'subject' and 'history' in their relationship to doctrinal development. In addition, the thought of both Congar and Newman is interwoven throughout. Andrew Meszaros contextualizes and surveys Congar's reception of Newman. He explains the appeal of Newman and provides concrete evidence that would substantiate the nature and extent of Newman's influence on Congar, and thereby indirectly, on Vatican II. Meszaros also discusses doctrinal development with special attention to the subject and history. These treatments are based on the subjective and historical 'motors' or 'causes', as it were, of doctrinal development. He then develops a theology of doctrine and doctrinal development as inspired by Newman and Congar. In its reflection on the meaning of the Doctrinal Economy, this study contributes to the theological problem of history and doctrine by synthesizing and honing contributions of these two great thinkers of modern Catholic theology. It is precisely some of the key differences between Newman and Congar that make it theologically enriching to study them together.