PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC THEOLOGY
A Synthesis of Dogma and Morals

Principles of Catholic Theology is meant to be a concise and up-to-date synthesis of dogmatic and moral theology. As a synthesis, it brings together the various concerns of Catholic theology—Christology, ecclesiology, sacramentology, principles of morality, human responsibility, to mention only a few—and tries to show how they are related in a logically consistent way. Thus, this volume offers an overview and systematic presentation of the whole range of Catholic theology. Naturally, this relatively short volume is restricted to the most general principles of a theological synthesis; but it provides a bibliography for further reading at the beginning of each chapter. This volume is divided into two main parts. The first part deals with dogmatic theology and studies the divine call to fellowship with the one and triune God. The second part deals with moral theology and studies the human response to the divine call.

About the Authors: Edward Gratsch is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He has done graduate work in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas, Rome, and spent sabbatical years at the University of Bonn, Germany, and Sophia University, Tokyo. He is the author of Where Peter Is, among other books and is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

John R. Civille is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, assistant professor of moral theology at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Norwood, Ohio, and pastor of St. Anthony’s Church, Cincinnati. He earned his doctorate in moral theology at the Alfonsiana, Rome. His publications include Tanzania and Nyerere (co-authored with William Duggan). He is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Ralph J. Lawrence, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is the Francis S. Smith Professor of Theology at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Norwood, Ohio. He earned his doctorate in theology in 1963 from the Catholic University of America, where he specialized in the study of sacramental theology. He has held membership in several ecumenical bodies over the past twenty years.

Donald G. McCarthy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Louvain, Belgium. He has studied Christian Ethics at Marquette University and held a residency in theology and medical ethics at the Institute of Religion, Houston. He is presently Director of Education at the Pope John XXIII Medical-Moral Research and Education Center in St. Louis and visiting professor of moral theology at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Norwood, Ohio.