Last week, an obscure book on sexual ethics by a nun who taught for years at yale rocketed from below 140,000 on amazons bestseller list to number. Catholic theological society of america defends farleys. A framework for christian sexual ethics, because, among other evil statements, the female author states that masturbation never hurt anyone. It begins with historical and crosscultural explorations, then addresses the large questions of embodiment, gender, and sexuality, and finally delineates the. The vatican is completely correct to clarify that sister. She is the author or coeditor of seven books, including personal commitments. The main point i wish to end with is that sister margaret farley s book is a serious addition to any library on human ethics, or moral evolution. Catholic theologians stand up to the vatican by townsend. Margaret farley, professor emeritus of christian ethics at yale divinity school, and her 2006 book just love. Vaticans condemnation of nuns sex book turns it into bestseller.
Her analytical mind imbues every page and her words and arguments are for that reason a delight to read. Sister margaret farley, rsm, the theologian whose 2006 book just love. Continuum publishing, 2006 sister margaret farley, rsm in this treatise, sister margaret farley observes that the churchs teaching on sexuality is based in an actcentered morality i. No justice for margaret farley and just love national. Ncr sat with farley to discuss these themes and her own take on. Farley does not conform to the teachings of the magisterium. Liberal sisters of mercy president defends sister farleys. Sister farley either ignores the constant teaching of the magisterium or, where it is. A framework for christian sexual ethics paperback 15 apr 2008.
The she of course is sister of mercy margaret farley, former professor at the yale divinity school and author of just love. Sister margaret farley denounced by vatican the new york times. In his post below, rob refers to margaret farley s new book. Stark professor emerita of christian ethics at yale university divinity school. Oct 31, 2006 in his post below, rob refers to margaret farleys new book. Stark professor emerita of christian ethics at yale university divinity school, where she taught christian ethics from 1971 to 2007.
In 2006, sister margaret farleys just love, a framework for christian sexual ethics was published, and its since established itself as a fixture in the canon of religious writing that doesnt. In a notification published june 4, the congregation for the doctrine of the faith stated that the 2006 book is in direct contradiction with catholic teaching in the field of sexual morality. Theologians support sister margaret farley in the face of. Essays from throughout farleys long scholarly career. Theyre all reflections on how christian communities need to frame discussions of that ethical topic, in order to be adequately ethical and adequately christian as they approach it.
Louis, members of the catholic theological society of america spoke against the vaticans recent denunciation of sister margaret farleys 2006 book, just love. Jun 17, 2012 the vaticans watchdog office called the congregation for the doctrine of faith has come out against a book written by sister margaret farleys in 2006 titled, just love. A framework for christian sexual ethics by margaret a. Jun 05, 2012 sister margaret farley is a theologian in the same way as david cameron. Thats shorthand now for the writings of sister margaret farley, a 70something theological heavyweight. That said, farley doesnt identify herself as a member of the sisters of mercy on either her official yale biography or on the books cover. Vatican critiques book by mercy sister margaret farley. Ultimately for farley, a sound sexual ethic, both human and christian, depends on justice.
Sister margaret farley, rsm, is a highly respected and valued member of the sisters of mercy of the americas, said sister patricia mcdermott, the orders president. Sister margaret farley is professor emeritus at yale divinity school vatican says her 2006 book is at odds with catholic teaching. Book by margaret farley, rsm, condemned by vatican america. Vatican dogma v margaret farleys just love lisa cahill.
Cdf has declared that a book on sexual ethics by mercy sister margaret a. My denomination, the unitarian universalist association, actually requires our candidates for ministry to read this book for grounding in sexual ethics. The vaticans orthodoxy office said monday that the book, just love. Mary waskowiak the then president of the sisters of mercy of the americas enclosing a preliminary evaluation of the book and indicating the doctrinal problems present in the text. For those who dont already know about her, here are some highlights from the yale divinity school. The vaticans doctrinal office, led by an american, cardinal william j. Nun writes sex book praising female masturbation, vatican. A framework for christian sexual ethics continuum, 2006. Sister margaret farley denounced by vatican the new york. A framework for christian sexual ethics, by sister margaret farley, a member of the sisters of mercy religious order and. The book, while clearly not an ideal beach book, will keep the reader interested to the end. Sanctions against nuns spark backlash the boston globe. The vatican says sister margaret farleys book on sexual ethics.
A framework for christian sexual ethics by margaret farley continuum international publishing group, june 2006 dr margaret farley, a sister of mercy and a professor of christian ethics since 1971 at yale divinity school, is one of american christianitys foremost ethicists. That was the day the vatican revealed its censure of sister margaret a. Currently professor emerita at yale divinity school, where in 1971 she was one of their first, along with henri nouwen, roman catholic faculty members, farley is a sister of mercy who through decades of teaching and scholarship has. A framework for christian sexual ethics, contains erroneous. She is a member of the sisters of mercyand a past president of the society of christian ethics. Members of the catholic theological society of america spoke in protest against the vaticans recent denunciation of sister margaret farley s 2006 book, just love. The office first notified sister farleys superior of its concerns in march 2010, and said it had opened a further investigation because a response she had sent to the.
Lawrence odonnell slams vatican for its official position on. A framework for christian sexual ethics by farley, margaret a. She was the first woman appointed to serve fulltime on the yds faculty and shared with henri nouwen the distinction of being the first roman catholic faculty member at the divinity school. A framework for christian sexual ethics, sister margaret farleys 2006 treatise has nevertheless drawn the ire of the vaticans orthodoxy office, which said monday that the work poses grave harm to the catholic flock for its comparatively progressive positions on homosexuality and masturbation, among other. We must learn to say stop to those who abuse authority only to preserve it. Lawrence odonnell slams vatican for its official position onmasturbation. The vaticans criticism of sister margaret farley, a professor emeritus of christian ethics at. A framework for christian sexual ethics by margaret farley and margaret a.
The vatican congregation for the doctrine of the faith has sharply criticized just love, an awardwinning book on sexual ethics by mercy sr. The vatican is completely correct to clarify that sister farley s book stands firmly outside the tradition of the church fr alexander luciesmith june 5, 2012 at 10. A framework for christian sexual ethics, in which the bishops found grave problems. Also covered are specific issues in sexual ethics, including samesex relationships, marriage and family, divorce and second marriage, celibacy, and sex and its negativities. Farley s book spends only one paragraph on it, and it. The vatican is completely correct to clarify that sister farleys book stands firmly outside the tradition of the church. In fact, you cant even order it on amazon at the moment because its sold out. Margaret farley talks divorce, remarriage, and communion.
A collected volume of essays by renowned ethicist margaret farley, including articles previously published in scholarly periodicals as well as unpublished lectures and spiritual writings. Mary waskowiak the then president of the sisters of mercy of the americas enclosing a preliminary evaluation of the. Farley said she did not intend to express official catholic teaching. With this book, margaret farley would append to pauls lyrical litany that love isor ought to bejust. Feb 15, 2008 sister margaret farleys work at hand was brought to my attention by the vaticans public censure of just love in 2012. Farleys controversial book, just love 2006, brought criticism and censure from the holy see, specifically the congregation of the doctrine of the. A framework for christian sexual ethics was recently censured by the vatican, has been receiving an outpouring of support from various quarters in the catholic church. Vatican criticizes us theologians book on sexual ethics. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. A framework for christian sexual ethics, contains erroneous propositions on homosexual acts, samesex marriage, masturbation and remarriage after divorce that could cause confusion and grave harm to the. She refuses to fall in line with a vatican rigidly clinging to an inbred, illusory.
The vaticans criticism was due in part to the fact that sister farley argues for heterosexual and homosexual committed relationships to be treated. Ivie introduction having completed an initial examination of the book just love. Phyllis farley, a prosperous neighbor, begins to woo the children as companions for her strange, housebound son, henry must weigh an unusual proposition, the consequences of which may cost him everything. Farley, who teaches at yale divinity school, over her 2006 book, which the church said is out of step with official church teaching on human sexuality, including masturbation and homosexuality.
Its not a formal censure of farley herself, but just the book. Farley is an academic look at the question of what a christian sexual ethic might look like. Margaret farley and her dustup with the powersthatbe at the. Farleys controversial book, just love 2006, brought criticism and censure from the holy see, specifically the congregation of the doctrine of the faith for moral views which oppose the teachings of the roman catholic church, but her book and views has received both support and endorsement from the groups leadership conference of women religious and the catholic theological society of america. Jun 07, 2012 banning a book is one triedandtrue way to revive its sales figures. The main point i wish to end with is that sister margaret farleys book is a serious addition to any library on human ethics, or moral evolution. Divinity school, where she taught from 19712007, published just love in 2006. Catholic league president bill donohue comments on sister margaret farleys book, just love. Margaret farley, a prominent catholic theologian at yale university. Stark professor of christian ethics at the yale divinity school. Today at roman noon the congregation for the doctrine of the faith published a notification about the book just love. The vatican goes to war against the nuns over the m word. Sister margaret has served as past president of the catholic theological society.
A final set of excerpts from margaret farley s book just love. Farley 2006, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. A framework for christian sexual ethics, published in 2006. Explorations in christian ethics margaret farley, jamie manson on. A release from the vatican noted that the congregation wrote to sr. Margaret farley has written about the churchs teaching on divorce and remarriage, asking new questions about the nature of commitment and the conditions for release from obligations. Vatican denounces nuns book on sexual ethics world news.
Jun 04, 2012 the vaticans congregation for the doctrine of the faith has said that mercy sister margaret farleys 2006 book, just love. Book by margaret farley, rsm, condemned by vatican. Margaret farley, now professor emerita at yale divinity school, published a book which contradicts, confuses or undermines catholic teaching on, among other things, masturbation. The vaticans congregation for the doctrine of the faith has said that mercy sister margaret farleys 2006 book, just love. A framework for christian social ethics in which the bishops found grave problems. Farley born april 15, 1935 is an american religious sister and a member of the. A framework for christian sexual ethics, which has been criticized by the vatican. Farleys positions are in direct contradiction with catholic teaching in. I know that i speak for our membership in expressing our profound regret that a notification has been issued. This longawaited book by one of american christianitys foremost ethicists proposes a framework for sexual ethics whereby justice is the criterion for all loving, including love that is related to sexual activity and relationships.
Farley born april 15, 1935 is an american religious sister and a member of the catholic sisters of mercy. Jan 01, 2006 though just love s particular focus is christian sexual ethics, farley s framework is broad enough to have relevance for multiple traditions. Sister margaret has served as past president of the catholic. Who knew rome was as potent as oprah when it comes to hawking books. They spoke in protest against the vaticans denunciation of sister margaret farleys 2006 book, just love. Vatican denounces sister margaret farleys book on sexual. Sister margaret farley book the vatican on monday sharply criticized a book on sexuality written by a prominent american nun, saying it contradicted church teaching on issues like masturbation, homosexuality and marriage and that its author had. Rather, the apostle lists several marks of the sort of christian love he envisions. This longawaited book by one of american christianitys foremost ethicis. Farley in 2010 enclosing a preliminary evaluation of her book and indicating the doctrinal problems it contained, however her answer failed to clarify those issues in a satisfactory manner. This weekend, margaret farley was publicly condemned by the vatican for her 2006 book, just love. Sister margaret farley, a member of the sisters of mercy religious order and emeritus professor of christian ethics at yale divinity school, was the subject of a denunciation letter which stated that the teachings in her book were a grave harm to fellow christians and were not to be followed.
Odonnell relished in the fact that though the book was published in. The main point i wish to end with is that sister margaret farley s book is a serious addition. Vatican dogma v margaret farleys just love lisa cahill opinion. The vatican criticism, while seemingly harsh, is rather tame. She has published more than 100 articles and chapters of books on topics of ethical.
A framework for christian sexual ethics, a 2006 book about sexual ethics by sr. Vatican publishes judgment against sexual ethics book. Love is patient, kind, truthful, trusting, hopeful and enduring. Farley, dated october 28, 2010, did not clarify these problems in a. Sisters of mercy president defends farley, criticizes cdf. As such, the cdf said, it cannot be used as a valid expression of catholic teaching, either in counseling and formation, or in ecumenical and. Vatican says book by prominent nun margaret farley contradicts church.
Mojreaders may be interested to know that margaret farley, who holds an endowed position at yale divinity school, is sister margaret farley. No one who ever heard of margaret farley and stumbled across her book, just love, in a bookstore would consider her a nun. A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption, which has been on amazons bestseller list for well over a year. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Stark professor emerita of christian ethics at yale univeristy divinity school. Sister margaret farleys work at hand was brought to my attention by the vaticans public censure of just love in 2012.
The president of the sisters of mercy of the americas has issued a statement defending sister margaret farley and her book. They said it could cause grave harm to the faithful, in presenting a sexual ethic based in justice. Sister margaret farleys text cannot be used as a valid expression of catholic teaching, states a notification likely to fuel debate over the obligations of catholic women religious. Catholic theologians stand up to the vatican the christian. No justice for margaret farley and just love national catholic. Powerfully imagined and intensely felt, the lost mother is a haunting masterwork and mcgarry morris s strongest novel to date. Margaret farley, now professor emerita at yale divinity school, published a book which contradicts, confuses or undermines. Vatican warns faithful against sisters book on sexual ethics.
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