Sounds really interesting. I would like to read it.Really looking forward to Sr. Johnson’s new book “Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the Love of God.” It’s getting nice reviews and the topic of Darwin, evolution, and Catholic theology is a super-fascinating subject.
Anyone got it, getting it, or what?
It’s not my highest priority, to make sure of that. It is a good question though.Considering the issues with her last book, I hope she went through the process of getting an imprimatur *before *publishing this one. Anyone know?
I do not know, but would be surprised if she did. Johnson has said that her book was inaccurately criticized and that she had been unjustly treated. She spoke recently with the National Catholic Reporter:Considering the issues with her last book, I hope she went through the process of getting an imprimatur *before *publishing this one. Anyone know?
The earlier book *may have been * “political and not theological” but she is promoting this newest book as a theological work which puts it back into the purview of the bishops to ensure its soundness. It’s not the purview of “her circle” to decide that. If she side-steps the process, that’s a big red flag by itself and Catholics should be very careful about the book.I do not know, but would be surprised if she did. Johnson has said that her book was inaccurately criticized and that she had been unjustly treated. She spoke recently with the National Catholic Reporter:
After the committee reaffirmed its condemnation, the canon lawyers advised her to let go of the situation. "They told me, ‘this is political, not theological,’ " Johnson recalls. “The committee set up my work as a straw book to destroy.”
When her circle of theologians agreed that the committee’s statement was without substance, Johnson decided to respond with a lament.
“I am responsible for what I have said and what I have written,” she wrote at the time, “but I am not willing to take responsibility for what Quest does not say and I do not think.”
ncronline.org/blogs/grace-margins/book-god-and-darwin-elizabeth-johnson-gets-her-voice-back
She was suggesting that her book had been criticized, not for theological reasons, but for reasons involving Church politics.The earlier book *may have been * “political and not theological” but she is promoting this newest book as a theological work which puts it back into the purview of the bishops to ensure its soundness.
I must admit that I know little about this, but my impression is that most theologians do not seek a Nihil Obstat/Imprimatur for their works. I am not sure whether that is a good thing, but perhaps the choice can’t really be described as side-stepping if an Imprimatur is not required and is not standard.If she side-steps the process, that’s a big red flag by itself and Catholics should be very careful about the book.
And?She was suggesting that her book had been criticized, not for theological reasons, but for reasons involving Church politics.
It’s not a good thing, in my opinion but it does seem to be a trend. Rather than going through the full process of submitting a work for review, many theologians and other Catholic writers get a bishop to give an endorsement of the book or write a review. Sr. Johnson has not done that either to my knowledge.I must admit that I know little about this, but my impression is that most theologians do not seek a Nihil Obstat/Imprimatur for their works. I am not sure whether that is a good thing, but perhaps the choice can’t really be described as side-stepping if an Imprimatur is not required and is not standard