A Century of Catholic Social Thought

Pope Leo XIII's 18891 encyclical "Rerum novarum" launched a century of reflection and argument on the Catholic Church's vision of the just society and international order. The centenary of this encyclical provides an opportunity to review the contributions the Church has made to the ongoing public debate over the pursuit of peace, freedom, security and prosperity. It is a lso a fitting time to assess the Church's ability to guide both its followers and the wider public on a host of contemporary issues. This collection of essays offers the views of ten commentators on the key documents of the Church's modern social doctrine. It also features a foreword by a renowned theologian, Richard John Neuhaus, and an ecumenical afterword by the Very Reverend Leonid Kishkovsky, president of the National Council of Churches.