Peacebuilding: Catholic Theology, Ethics and Praxis

In this groundbreaking volume, leading Catholic theologians, scholar-practitioners, and ethicists take up the challenge of developing a conceptually coherent, theologically accurate, spiritually enlivening, and practically effective approach to Catholic peacebuilding that can complement the rich Catholic teaching on the ethics of war.

These original essays examine the role of Catholic peacebuilders in preventing and resolving conflicts, and reconciling divided societies from Colombia and the Philippines to Indonesia and South Africa. They also consider how this work for peace can inform and be enriched by deeper reflection on the peacebuilding dimensions of social teaching, theology, sacraments, interreligious dialogue, and the Church's mission.

Peacebuilding will be indispensable to all scholars and practitioners engaged in developing a theology and ethic of just peace, as well as for students seeking to understand the interaction between theology, ethics, and lived Christianity.

"A uniquely powerful and important book. Its relevance begins with the Catholic community but it reaches beyond the Church to other religious traditions, to the role of states and international institutions and—most powerfully—to the lives of those seeking to build the structures of peace in conflicted communities throughout the world....The audiences for this book are multiple; the issues it confronts are compellingly important; the message it offers will be a sign of hope and a source of wisdom."-J. Bryan Hehir, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

"This much-needed contribution provides a well-developed theology, ethics and spirituality that will serve as a firm foundation for effective peacebuilding programs. It will be of value not only for Caritas and other Church agencies, but for people of goodwill around the world who, with compassion and respect for the dignity of every individual person, recognize that we are all one humanity?'-Lesley-Anne Knight, Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis

Robert J. Schreiter, C.PP.S., is Bernardin Center Vatican II Professor of Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

R. Scott Appleby is John M. Regan Jr. Director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Gerard F. Powers is Director of Catholic Peacebuilding Studies at the Kroc Institute.