Theology and Power International Perspectives

Questions of power, and its capacity for abuse, have emerged as urgent themes for theoretical and practical reflection within the international Catholic context and beyond. In large part, this is due to widespread revelations of sexual abuse, and allegations of subsequent cover-ups, mishandling, and safeguarding failures. But while of the utmost importance, Christian explorations of power are neither limited to, nor prompted by the sexual abuse crisis alone. Recognising the gravity, urgency and global application of these issues, Theology and Power brings together Catholic scholars from three continents for a renewed, practical and theoretical exploration of power and its (ab)uses. Special attention is given to both the sexual abuse crisis, and the often tense relationships between religion and politics. This is an original collection of essays by leading Asian, European, and North American theologians and ethicists, exploring the nature of power and its capacity for abuse within both the Church and civil society.