Robert Dodaro

Remaining in the Truth of Christ is the famous, or infamous depending on one's views, so-called "Five Cardinals Book" about Catholicism and the sacrament of marriage that was released to form part of the debate during the Synod on the Family last October. Those paying attention to Catholic news sources may also recognize it as the book that was stolen from the mail by a senior Vatican official to keep Synod attendees from reading it. So what is this book that is apparently so frightening? A very comprehensive look at Catholic doctrine on marriage, and why changing it is not going to work.

The book is a collection of nine separate essays covering everything from marriage in the Gospels, to marriage in canon law, and beyond. There is a particularly interesting essay on marriage in the Orthodox Church, written by an Eastern Catholic Archbishop from Slovakia, that should be required reading for anyone who says that the Orthodox allow divorce so Catholics should too. All in all, an important contribution on a debate that the Pope seems determined to have. Highly recommended.… (més)