An Intelligent Person's Guide to Catholicism

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Excellent, Excellent
Review: Father McCoy sets forth authentic Catholic teaching with precision and insight. He correctly states the basis of the Church's inability to ordain women and is quite persuasive in pointing out that the modern Western view that an individual has a right to ordination is utterly off-base (p. 55). He also cogently explains the basis of the Church ban on contraception by lucidly noting how those in favor of contraception labor under the assumption that there is an "inalienable right" to sexual activity (p. 113). These are only two of the many issues discussed in the book, but these two show that Fr. McCoy is intent on explaining Catholic teaching and not on revising it as so many books penned by theological liberals do.

The best part of the book, in my view, is McCoy's discussion of the "Seven Deadly Sins" (pride, sloth, envy, avarice, gluttony, wrath, and lust). He discusses them through a masterful presentation of Christian anthropology--the Christian view of the flourishing human person. He shows how the seven deadly sins are related and how they impoverish our existence. He shows how these sins are very much alive today and do not just form an archaic list from another age.

Here is Catholicism truly presented in an intelligent manner. This book would truly be a valuable addition to anyone's library.