A fascinating analysis of the state of contemporary Catholic social thought--what it means, how it has developed, and how it can meet the pressing new demands of our rapidly changing world. Dr. Thomas D. Williams, professor of Catholic social teaching in Rome for more than a decade, examines the essential contours of Catholic social thought in the 21st century. Addressing many of the critical topics of our day, Williams lays out the challenges that face us whenever we try to balance competing demands--such as individual rights and community needs--in the light of the Gospel and the Church's social tradition.

Key topics of Williams' rich, multi-layered study include multiculturalism, economic justice, the use of capital punishment, the limitations of religious "tolerance," the emergence of abortion as a social justice issue, and the original contribution of Pope Benedict to the Church's social tradition.

Whether you are a Catholic wanting to understand your own tradition better, or a non-Catholic interested in the Church as a moral force in the world, this book provides unique insight into one of the world's most influential sources of social ethics.