John Paul II and Moral Theology

This chapter concerns the development of Roman Catholic moral theology at the end of the second millennium of the Christian era. At least in this context, at least in this respect, John Paul II was a great theologian who leaves an important theological legacy. To establish this claim, it is first necessary to explore the current state of moral theology and the history of the discipline. In the light of this discussion one aspect of the moral theology of John Paul will be used to demonstrate his distinctive contribution: his use of scripture. In his writing on fundamental moral theology and on specific moral issues, John Paul II has turned to the Scriptures. He has used the Scriptures not just as ‘proof texts’ for conclusions provided by the tradition or established by natural reason. He has used the Scriptures to do work. He has engaged in a sustained exegesis of Scriptural passages attentive to what they have to teach on moral issues. The Anglican moral theologian Oliver O’Donovan has appreciated the way that the pope uses Scripture, ‘not quoted as a proof but teased out as a way of framing a question in scriptural terms’. O’Donovan particularly draws attention to ‘the unforgettable treatment of the rich young ruler at the beginning of Veritatis Spendor, or of Cain and Abel in Evangelium Vitae.’ In order to appreciate John Paul II as a theologian (without either excessive deference or excessive defensiveness) it seems better to try to forget that he is also pope. Perhaps now that John Paul is no longer pope, and the extent of his legacy precisely as theologian can become better appreciated.