Reviewed Book: Leddy, Mary Jo. Faith that transforms: essays in honor of Gregory Baum. New York: Paulist Press, 1987

Cole-Arnal, Oscar

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 14Issue 2 Issues and Concerns in Ethics Article 2011-1-1988Faith that transforms: essays in honor of GregoryBaumOscar Cole-ArnalFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationCole-Arnal, Oscar (1988) "Faith that transforms: essays in honor of Gregory Baum," Consensus: Vol. 14 : Iss. 2 , Article 20.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol14/iss2/20Book Reviews 119economies. The philosophical accounts of justice are positively disposed tocapitalist market-based economies. The theological positions, on the otherhand, do not give unqualified approval to capitalist economic systems. Forexample, the bishops are moderately critical, while being intent on reform.Niebuhr offers Marxist criticisms of capitalism, but is equally critical of“socialist” alternatives, and liberation theologians are most vocal in theiropposition to the structural injustices of capitalism. Lebacqz gives theimpression that the theological accounts of justice have accurately identifiedfundamental social and political problems at the heart of capitalism, buthave yet to work out the solutions to these problems with equal clarity.Lebacqz’s book is well-structured and clearly written. She takes a bal-anced and fair-minded approach in presenting the central concerns of eachposition, in examining various criticisms, and in producing insightful eval-uations that probe the contributions and the limitations of each theory ofjustice. The book can be effectively read on its own, but will be especiallyuseful to anyone interested in sophisticated critical analysis of the majorworks identified in the study.Arthur A. KrentzLuther College, University of ReginaFaith That Transforms: Essays in Honor of GregoryBaumMary Jo Leddy and Mary Ann Hinsdale, eds.New York/Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1987It comes as no surprise that a Feschschrift has appeared to honor thelife and work of Dr. Gregory Baum, Canada’s most noted liberationist the-ologian, but unlike so many works of this genre, this particular one has agoodly number of most compelling characteristics. Of course, the articlesare mixed in their value and appeal. That is to be expected. Nonetheless,all of them have some value, and a number of them are superior. RosemaryRuether’s piece on theologizing from the “across-the-tracks” experience isespecially poignant, and Dorothee Solle’s article linking peace with femi-nism is thought-provoking in its insights. Douglas Hall’s “Theology Is anEarth Science” reflects his usual blend of classical thinking and radical in-sights. Especially appealing is Mary Jo Leddy’s “Exercising Theology inthe Canadian Context.” Full well she realizes the pioneering importance oflinking the gospel to issues in life within our own nation, just as she realizeshow little importance we give to this task. She speaks of Canada’s colonialexistence, and the fact that “our point of reference is always elsewhere—there but not here.'” So, for her, the question “Who am I?” must be linkedinexorably with “Where is here?” So, she concludes, we must turn away120 Consensusfrom our borrowed theology of colonizers and turn toward the “small col-lectivities of hope” within Canadian life which are the well-springs for ourown theological reflections.Further, this Festschrift is pluralistically rich. In this sense, it reflectsthe wide range of Gregory Baum’s circle of friends and influence. His is atruly ecumenical theology in terms of both his thought and his life. He hasmentored many of these people, and they are his friends. They are Protes-tants (like Douglas Hall and Robert McAfee Brown); they are Catholics(like Mary Jo Leddy and Matthew L. Lamb); they are Jews (like RabbiDow Marmur). Some are feminist liberationists, such as Rosemary Ruetherand Dorothee Solle, while others are steeped in the interface of psychologyand theology like Philip McKenna. Such a wide range of thought and ex-perience is an appropriate tribute to a man who embodies this ecumenicalreality in his own life pilgrimage.The chronological bibliography at the end of the book not only is a use-ful research tool for those who would steep themselves in Baum’s theologybut also is a vivid portrayal of the broad scholarship of the man himself.Finally, the personal reflections of Gregory Baum are worth the priceof the book. He takes us through the pilgrimage of his religious journey sothat the scholar we have admired so much emerges now as the warm andengaging human being that has touched so many lives. He has describedhis life as one who has received the touch of God’s grace in surprising andwonderful ways. No wonder then, for those who know his life and thought,he has emerged as a surprising and wonderful man.Oscar L. ArnalWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryThe Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,Confirmation, EucharistKenan B. OsborneNew York: Paulist Press, 1987249 pp.“From the earliest period of the Christian era,” claims Father Os-borne, “the Church has celebrated the initiation of converts and neophytesinto the community by a sacramental process which is seen as baptism—(confirmation)—eucharist.”The author notes further: “If the approach to the initiation into theChurch is seen not merely as baptism, but also as baptism—eucharist,the implications for the ecumenical movement become somewhat acute,since there is often a recognition of one Church’s baptism, but a refusal towelcome such baptized Christians to the eucharistic table.”

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