Whole People in a Broken World: The Ethics of Mercy and the Pastoral Mission of the Church

According to Norbert Rigali, SJ, moral theology and pastoral practice are in a complementary relationship of mutual correlation rather than in polar opposition. Jeremiah McCarthy's distinctive contribution is the recovery of a deeper strand in the Church's tradition, reconnecting moral action to the spirituality of a moral character formed in the image and likeness of Christ.

Endorsements

"Building upon a lifetime of research, writing, teaching, and ethical consultations, Msgr. Jeremiah McCarthy has produced a work that gives the reader a timely and invigorating understanding of Catholic ethics. In ways that will intrigue the new student of ethics as well as the veteran theologian, Whole People in a Broken World provides powerful insights and help in grappling with the complex ethical issues of the day. A truly great read!"
--Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger, Archbishop of Detroit

"In a work that spans from the ancient church to Pope Francis, McCarthy enlivens the heart and inspiration of Catholic moral theology: mercy and compassion flowing forth in Christ-like connection to others, in the face of all difficulty and suffering. McCarthy's interpretation of where moral theology has been and where it is now is both erudite and pastoral, never losing sight of its accountability to 'real life.'"
--Lisa Sowle Cahill, J. Donald Monan, SJ, Professor of Theology, Boston College

"In Whole People in a Broken World, Jeremiah McCarthy provides the philosophical and theological underpinnings of Pope Francis's understanding of the role of mercy in the Church's pastoral and missionary outreach. If Jesus is the face of the Father's mercy, then his disciples are called to extend that mercy to others. They are strangers in a foreign land, a whole people living in a broken world. I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding how the ethics of mercy and Christian spirituality come together in the field hospital of Christ's Body, the Church."
--Dennis J. Billy, CSsR, professor emeritus, The Alphonsian Academy of Rome's Pontifical Lateran University

Msgr. Jeremiah McCarthy, PhD, is a priest of the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and has been serving as Professor of Moral Theology at Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas since 2019. He earned his PhD from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California.
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