Catholics and Evangelicals: Do They Share a Common Future?

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In recent years, a slow revolution has been afoot in the Christian world--a rapprochement between Catholics and evangelical Protestants, two groups that even 30 years ago had little to do with one another. This volume, jointly published by a leading Catholic and a leading evangelical press, attests to that revolution, even as it asks whether the two groups share "a common future." (The volume's answer is a cautiously optimistic yes.) The meat of the book is four essays on theology: a Catholic and a Protestant each on salvation and ecclesiology, two issues that have long separated the churches. Indeed, the most intriguing essay is Timothy George's attempt to envision a new evangelical ecclesiology. But the book avoids entirely another issue dividing the churches: women's roles. There is neither an essay by a woman, nor an essay about women. Even those who do not usually hop on the affirmative action bandwagon will agree that a book hoping to bring Catholics and evangelicals together must address the women who comprise half the rank-and-file members in their pews. This collection pulls together a number of luminaries, including Fuller Theological Seminary president Richard Mouw and Fordham University religion professor Avery Dulles. But it could have benefited from an essay (or two or three) by any of the under-35 Christians for whom at least some expressions of ecumenism are taken for granted. While the volume pursues a noble goal, it falls short. (Dec.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.