Santa Clara University

Catholic Social Thought

A Short Introductory Course:

Himes, et al. present the tradition in its historical and documentary context. Hollenbach shows that national self-interest plus Enlightenment tolerance cannot provide a satisfactory framework for solving contemporary global problems. Coleman and Ryan edit a collection of the most prominent scholars in the field of global Catholic Social Thought.

Himes, Kenneth R., O.F.M., ed. Modern Catholic Social Teaching: Commentaries and Interpretations (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2004).

Hollenbach, David, S.J., The Common Good and Christian Ethics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002).

Coleman, John A., and Ryan, William F., eds. Globalization and Catholic Social Thought (Toronto: Novalis, 2005). This is a collection of the most  prominent scholars in this area.

Other texts:

Baum, Gregory, and Ellsberg, Robert, eds., The Logic of Solidarity: Commentaries on Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical “On Social Concern” (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1991). The encyclical and eleven commentaries.

Coleman, John A., S.J., ed., One Hundred Years of Catholic Social Thought: Celebration and Challenge (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1991). Twenty-three essays on the tradition, family, work, and peace.

Curran, Charles E., Catholic Social Teaching, 1891-Present (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2002). Curran divides his treatment into methodological and content sections.

Henriot, Peter J., DeBerri, Edward P., and Schultheis, Michael J., Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret, 3^rd edition (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1992). Brief introduction to tradition, and outlines of twenty-three documents from Center of Concern in Washington, D.C.

Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (Ireland), Catholic Social Teaching in Action (Dublin: Columba Press, 2005). Collection of twelve essays.

O’Brien, David J., and Shannon, Thomas A., eds. Catholic Social Thought: The Documentary Heritage (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2002). Texts of fourteen crucial documents with introductions.

January 11, 2007