Abstract
In his brief Preface Bretzke states that ‘while the focus is on the Catholic moral tradition, this book is meant to be neither an exhaustive encyclopaedia of moral theology nor a compendium of the current official position of the Church on the terms and their underlying debates.’ The Handbook offers a huge range of terms in moral theology, referring to debates and documents in the process. A helpful How to Use This Handbook explains the method employed which is accompanied by a useful list of Abbreviations. Some individual entries include a reference to further reading which is valuable for research. A Select Bibliography is also useful in this regard, though reference to the history of moral theology, e.g. Keenan, Mahoney, is not included.
From fundamental through social and sexual ethics to bioethics, Bretzke covers a vast range of terms (including Latin and Greek) that appear in moral theology. Some canonical terms are also included. Theories, theologians, and papal teaching are represented throughout and there are many informative entries, such as, for example, Divine command ethics and Situation ethics, Josef Fuchs and Bernard Haring, Humanae Vitae, and De fide definita. It is impossible to itemize every entry, and Bretzke’s initial statement that ‘ideally, a handbook of this sort should be clear, concise, and comprehensive’ is consistent and commendable as he covers the spectrum of contemporary moral theology. His caveat that ‘sacrifices have had to be made in the depth and breadth that many of the terms deserve’ and that ‘other worthy concepts on the original list’ had to be omitted is considerate and allows an opportunity for others to suggest contributions—e.g. Celtic Penitentials and hunger-striking (to death). The absence of a reference in entries for both Biblical ethics and Scripture and ethics to The Bible and Morality (Pontifical Biblical Commission, 2008) is striking as is the lack of an entry for Spirituality, given the recent interest in its relationship to morality/moral theology and the inclusion of Fuga mundi.
Bretzke’s Handbook offers a vital and valuable resource to students, teachers, and writers for reading, research, and reflection. It will be included in reference lists in moral theology/theological ethics for many years to come.