Cosmic Chastity in an Age of Technocratic Lust

John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Jeremiah Barker argues, share the theological, ethical, and spiritual core of Pope Francis' social teaching. Reappropriating R.R. Reno's redemption of Francis' cogent argument, Barker draws out the underlying rationale of Francis' message, which he argues is identical to the two previous popes. Inspired by Francis' call and teaching, Barker's compelling argument is an opportunity to reconsider the legacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI in the light of contemporary Catholic debates and challenges. A unique and refreshing analysis, Barker's argument is relevant for any Catholic seeking to make sense of these popes' messages.



Jeremiah Barker is a lay member of Madonna House Apostolate in Combermere, Ontario, and has contributed articles to Communio and Plough.



Preface: To My Fellow "JP2 Catholics" Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction Introducing Cosmic Chastity - Why Interpreting the Popes from within the Culture Wars Doesn't Work, and an Alternative Hermeneutic That Does Part I: Truth, Justice, and Charity: The JP2-B16 Legacy and Francis's Social Teaching 1 Resisting Relativism - JP2's and B16's Concern for Moral Truth, Justice, and Charity 2 Pope Francis on the Crisis of Communal Commitment - Moral Truth and the Truth about Family Life against the Regime of Relativism 3 A Canticle of Praise against the Logic of Babel - The Papal Trio's Liturgical Ontology over and against the Culture Wars Part II: Another Song, Other Singers Another War, Other Warriors: A Fight for the Heart of Culture, the Meaning of Work, and Vocational Commitment 4 Benedict and Francis in the Fiery Furnace - A Fight for the Heart of Culture 5 The Truth about Work and the Worker - JP2 and Benedict against Economic Injustice 6 JP2 and Francis on the Call of Christ - A Fight for Love-Fueled Responsibility and Vocational Commitment Part III: The Harmony of Moral Truth against the Cacophony of Relativism 7 Francis and the Tradition of Cosmic Chastity against the Dictatorship of Relativism 8 An Ode to Truth - JP2's and Francis's Shared Insistence on Moral Truth in the Crucible of Family Life Today 9 A Rehabilitation of Marriage and Family - The Papal Trio on the Summit of Creation Conclusion Prophetic Outcry and Liturgical Praise in the Fiery Furnace of Technocratic Lust Bibliography Index