In a career that spans the periods before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council, Richard A. McCormick, one of the major American theologians of our time, has demonstrated broad interests in Christian theological ethics and has written extensively on issues of fundamental and special theology. When the Second Vatican Council directed that special attention be paid to the renewal of moral theology, McCormick answered the challenge and has continued to do so ever since. In this study Odozor examines McCormick's thought and work in detail and sets it against the backdrop of larger developments that have taken place within the Church and the field of moral theology during the past five decades. Odozor begins by establishing McCormick's contribution to the renewal of moral theology and reconstructs McCormick's theological program by situating him within various social, theological, and professional contexts. He then goes on to show whether and to what extent McCormick has been consistent and coherent in his moral theological discourse. Although Odozor contends that McCormick's achievements are not totally unambiguous - theologically as well as methodologically - he defends them as laudable nonetheless.

Given the largely Eurocentric nature of moral theology in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, what will it take to invest the theological community in the history and moral challenges of the Church in other parts of the world, especially Africa? What is to be gained for the whole Church when this happens in a deep and lasting way? In this timely and important study, Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor brings greater theological clarity to the issue of the relationship between Christianity and African tradition in the area of ethical foundations. He also provides a constructive example of what fundamental moral theology done from an African and Christian (especially Catholic) moral theological point of view could look like. Following a brief history of the development of African Christian theology, Odozor examines responses of African theologians to African tradition and Christian responses to the reality of non-Christian religions. In a context where the African religious experience and heritage are powerful sources of meaning and identity, Christian evangelization raises questions both about the African primal religions and about Christianity itself and its claims. Odozor takes up the subject of moral reasoning in an African Christian theological ethics and concludes with case studies that show how the African Church has tried to inculturate moral discourse on a religiously pluralistic continent and relate the healing gospel message to African situations. Students and scholars of moral theology and ethics and church leaders will profit from the issues raised in Morality Truly Christian, Truly African.

Given the largely Eurocentric nature of moral theology in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, what will it take to invest the theological community in the history and moral challenges of the Church in other parts of the world, especially Africa? What is to be gained for the whole Church when this happens in a deep and lasting way? In this timely and important study, Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor brings greater theological clarity to the issue of the relationship between Christianity and African tradition in the area of ethical foundations. He also provides a constructive example of what fundamental moral theology done from an African and Christian (especially Catholic) moral theological point of view could look like.
Following a brief history of the development of African Christian theology, Odozor examines responses of African theologians to African tradition and Christian responses to the reality of non-Christian religions. In a context where the African religious experience and heritage are powerful sources of meaning and identity, Christian evangelization raises questions both about the African primal religions and about Christianity itself and its claims. Odozor takes up the subject of moral reasoning in an African Christian theological ethics and concludes with case studies that show how the African Church has tried to inculturate moral discourse on a religiously pluralistic continent and relate the healing gospel message to African situations. Students and scholars of moral theology and ethics and church leaders will profit from the issues raised in "Morality Truly Christian, Truly African."
"This is an ambitious book. The scholarship is sound and the author engages a range of authors and their views. Odozor takes seriously the critical and moral demands of Christian theology as well as those of African indigenous religions and their cultures. There is perhaps nothing so thoroughgoing on this topic since Benezet Bujo's "Foundations of an African Ethic: Beyond the Universal Claims of Western Morality."" --M. Shawn Copeland, Boston College

In a career that spanned the periods before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council, Richard A. McCormick, S.J. (1922-2000), was one of the major American theologians who demonstrated broad interest in Christian theological ethics and has written extensively on the issues of fundamental and special theology. When the Second Vatican Council directed that attention should be paid to the renewal of moral theology, McCormick answered that challenge. In this study Paulinus Ikechukwu Odozor, C.S.Sp., examines McCormick's thought and work in detail and sets it against the backdrop of larger developments that have taken place within the Church and the field of moral theology. Odozor begins by establishing McCormick's contribution to the renewal of moral theology and reconstructs McCormick's theological program by situating him within various social, theological, and professional contexts. He then goes on to show whether and to what extent McCormick has been consistent and coherent in his moral theological discourse. To effectively pursue the aims of this study, Odozor divided it into seven chapters. The first chapter delineates the parameters of pre-Vatican II moral theology and situates McCormick and his work in a larger context by defining the historical, social, and ecclesial contexts of his formation. The next five chapters take up themes central to understanding McCormick's work, including the nature of Christian ethics, the Church as moral teacher, proportionate reasoning, anthropology, and casuistry. In addition to his insightful analysis of McCormick's contributions to the field, Odozor includes a sensitive treatment of the complex interactions between McCormick as an individual scholar and the world in relation to which his identity as a scholar was formed and transformed.

PAULINUS IKECHUKWU ODOZOR, C.S.Sp., offers a comprehensive survey of developments in moral theology since the Second Vatican Council. In this useful new book he discusses the call of the Council for the renewal of moral theology and the role the Council itself played in this renewal. Odozor also explores the various issues and controversies which have marked the discipline in the past forty years. The dramatic changes and developments in moral theology during this time period rival any in the history of the Church. Moral Theology in an Age of Renewal covers a wealth of important topics, including the distinctiveness of Christian morality, natural law, scripture and ethics, moral norms, the Church's teaching authority, virtue ethics, and casuistry. Odozor provides a constructive proposal for a common ground which makes these debates in moral discourse possible. This scholarly study, one of the few of its kind, will be of significant value for moral theologians, other ethicists, systematic theologians, and anyone interested in Catholic cultural and intellectual history since Vatican II.

PAULINUS IKECHUKWU ODOZOR, C.S.Sp., offers a comprehensive survey of developments in moral theology since the Second Vatican Council. In this useful new book he discusses the call of the Council for the renewal of moral theology and the role the Council itself played in this renewal. Odozor also explores the various issues and controversies which have marked the discipline in the past forty years. The dramatic changes and developments in moral theology during this time period rival any in the history of the Church. Moral Theology in an Age of Renewal covers a wealth of important topics, including the distinctiveness of Christian morality, natural law, scripture and ethics, moral norms, the Church's teaching authority, virtue ethics, and casuistry. Odozor provides a constructive proposal for a common ground which makes these debates in moral discourse possible. This scholarly study, one of the few of its kind, will be of significant value for moral theologians, other ethicists, systematic theologians, and anyone interested in Catholic cultural and intellectual history since Vatican II.