Reason Informed by Faith: Foundations of Catholic Morality

Rating:
Summary: A Word of Caution
Review: A word of caution to all we read any Catholic morality book, including this one. The Church has made official declarations on the relationship between Faith and Reason (for example: Fides et Ratio and Veritatis Splendor). These would be better reading than popular theorizing on morality that Gula, Curran, and others present, who in some cases have been silenced and prohibited to teach Catholic morality--even if their books are unforunately being used in Catholic seminaries.
I would simply recommend that the individual first read official Church documents as primary reading, knowing that Proportionalism has been condemned as relativistic. And with all due respect to Richard Gula, there is really no authentic debate about "distinctively Christian morality." All authentic morality is Christian, regardless of the individual's believe in Jesus Christ. This by no means lessens the relationship of faith in moral systems, but in fact calls for a deeper understanding in face of perhaps a perceived lack of faith.
The foundations for Catholic Morality are not found in books by Richard Gula, Charles Curran, or the like; but are found in official Church documents, such as Fides et Ratio and Veritatis Splendor.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST for anyone trying to get a grasp on Catholic Morality
Review: I was fortunate to have had this text while a seminarian at St. Patrick's Seminary, where Fr. Gula was a professor and dean. Fr. Gula's book takes a critical look at the various strains of thought in Catholic morality/ethics. By critical, I mean that he examines the major ideas, points out their strong points and weak points, and puts them within the context of Catholic teaching and Tradition. Since having left the seminary, I have had occasion to refer to this book as a reference for religious education and discussions with friends.

Rating:
Summary: From a university professor of Catholic Moral Theology
Review: This book is an excellent and clear reflection of the best of Roman Catholic thinking about moral theology that has developed since the Second Vatican Council. The author is a respected theologian and has not been "silenced". The methodology which he presents is sound and has not been condemned by the Roman Catholic Church. His explanation of proportionalism (actually, "proportionate reason") is balanced and much more helpful than that found in Veritatis Splendor, which does not accurately represent this methodology.