By What Authority?: A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful

Rating:
Summary: Reduces the teachings of the Church to legalism
Review: One of the last chapters in this book was published in the Ligourian magazine. The chapter explains exactly what you have to do to be a Catholic in good standing. It categorizes each set of beliefs and teachings of the Church and proceeds to tell you that you only really have to follow the first set to consider yourself a Catholic in good standing.

The worst part of it is that the canon of Sacred Scripture is included in the second section (the one that you don't have to accept).

The Catholic has been accused of legalism and excessive use of rules, etc, and this book serves to reinforce that mind set. If you are looking for a book to justify you lack of living a good moral life according to the laws of God, then this is it.

Unfortunately, the book has some good points, but they really don't apply to you unless your conscience agrees with it.

Jesus said that he came to set us free from the law. But this book does the opposite, it actually abolishes the law and says that it really doesn't apply to you (at least 98% of it doesn't).

Rating:
Summary: Should be obligatory reading for RCIA & Confirmation classes
Review: This is a fabulous book that presents challenging topics in easily digestible chapters. The end of each chapter concludes with a list of ideas realted to the chapters that are currently being debated, with perspetives from both sides of the debate, and a list of further reading sources.

Thank you Richard Gaillardetz for fleshing out principles and entities, which to me always seemed nebulous. It is easier to respect and feel that I belong to a community of the fiathful, when I possess a better definition of the the government of the faithful and my obligations as a member of such a community.

Gaillardetz traces the histroy of authority as it has been artiuclted by the Chruch. He looks at the orgin of Scripture as a source, and the bodies that have always claimed to protect Scripture. He presents a concrete skeleton of the magisterium, and differentiates between the many different sources of teachings presented form the Church's offices, and which are more binding than others, and in what terms.

I thought the chapter on the role of an individual's conscience in accepting the churchs' ruling on issues which were not given as infallible teachings was most valuable. Gaillardetz outlines the importance of distinguishing the reasons for disagreement and how to discern whether they are motivated from issues with authority in general, weeknesses on the behalf of the individual, or a pure difference in moral interpretation. In concordance with the Catholic Catechism he advises that we are ultimately the ones who suffer the most of we commit immoral acts, and we must follow our conscience when it is speaking to us on morality. This is solid Catholic teaching, contrary to what a reviewer noted below, and something that more should be written about, to countreact the tendency for those who follow their conscience as being derisively called "cafeteria Catholics."

Rather than present theology as a static monolithic institution, Gaillardetz presents it as a dialogue between the entire living church; not just the exclusive domain of the hierarchical clergy. His perspective is refreshing, and uplifting. Hopefully many more works by him will follow.

Rating:
Summary: Reduces the teachings of the Church to legalism
Review: This is a much needed book on the subject. It clearly explains the interrelationship between Scripture, the Magisterium (i.e., the Church's teaching office), and Tradition. The author methodically and painlessly guides the reader through a somewhat complicated subject, leaving him/her with a distinct sense of increased understanding. Simplified, but never simplistic. A must read for every Catholic, and interested Protestant alike.

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding primer on an important subject!
Review: This is a much needed book on the subject. It clearly explains the interrelationship between Scripture, the Magisterium (i.e., the Church's teaching office), and Tradition. The author methodically and painlessly guides the reader through a somewhat complicated subject, leaving him/her with a distinct sense of increased understanding. Simplified, but never simplistic. A must read for every Catholic, and interested Protestant alike.