Why MoJ Matters . . .

A new CNN poll finds that three-quarters of American Catholics are more likely to follow their own consciences on difficult moral questions than the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI.  From my perspective, this underscores the importance of the Catholic legal theory project, which is geared not so much to buttress the institutional authority of the Church, but to engage the prevailing legal and political cultures with the foundational premises of Christianity.  Along with the broader impetus of Catholic social thought, Catholic legal theory is perfectly situated to shape the conscience -- even the purportedly omnipotent conscience.

Rob