In this illuminating and engaging book, Alban McCoy imaginatively and intelligently addresses the key questions that non-Catholics-and even Catholics- have about Roman Catholicisim. Are faith and reason enemies or allies? Do we need proof of God? Can God and evil both exist? Do we need the Pope? Is annulment divorce by another name? Why are women not ordained as priests in the Catholic Church? In an age where morality is increasingly challenged and reassessed, Alban McCoy demonstrates the relevance of the Catholic Church's moral teaching to the modern age and shows how Roman Catholicism is fully engaged with the realities of life and of the Spirit. Alban McCoy is Chaplain to the University of Cambridge. He is also a literary editor of The Tablet. His book, An Intelligent Person's Guide to Christian Ethics, is also in the Continuum Icons series.

2006-07-15 Enlightened and Uplifting

This book offers a frank and detailed discussion of the central tenets of the Catholic faith. Alban McCoy does not shrink from the challenge of explaining some of the most difficult aspects of Catholicism in a way which is instantly accessible to a non-Catholic such as myself. A fascinating read, the warmth and dignity of the author shine through as he engages with challenging issues such as the existence of evil in the world and the role of the Church and the Pope in Catholicism.

I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about Catholicism and indeed to anyone with a more general interest in philosophy, theology and ethics.

I am not sure what Catholics born and raised in the Church will make of the book, as I suspect that many of the arguments and explanations will already be familiar to them. Nevertheless, if a Catholic reader is seeking a fresh insight into the thinking behind the teachings of the Church, they need look no further.