By What Authority?: Foundations for Understanding Authority in the Church

Few topics are as important, or as controversial, as the proper role and exercise of authority in the Roman Catholic Church. Inspired by Pope Francis's bold rereading and determined implementation of the teaching of Vatican II, Richard Gaillardetz has completely revised and expanded his book By What Authority? It offers a helpful introduction to the nature and forms of church authority and their relationship to authentic Christian belief and discipleship. Gaillardetz offers theologically clear and pastorally insightful considerations of:

• the character of divine revelation, the authority of Scripture and tradition
• the role of the pope and bishops in preserving the Christian faith
• the levels of church teaching authority, the central faith witness of all the baptized
• the possibility of disagreements with church teaching, and the proper relationship between theologians, the magisterium, and the whole people of God
• the authority of the believing community and the controversial questions that arise when there are conflicting interpretations of church teaching.

• Rethinking Fundamental Theology
• The Experience of God: An Invitation to Do Theology
• An Introduction to Theology in Global Perspective
• The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation
• Stumbling in Holiness: Sin and Sanctity in the Church
• Whose Religion Is Christianity?: The Gospel beyond the West
• Dynamics of Theology
• Introducing Theological Method: A Survey of Contemporary Theologians and Approaches
• Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition (Traditions of Christian Spirituality.)
• How Do Catholics Read the Bible? (Come & See) (The Come & See Series)