Vatican II : did anything happen? /

This concise reflection on Vatican II's impact consists of four articles; three by Jesuit theologians deal with the question of how Vatican II ushered in important changes in experience, practice, and worship among Roman Catholics worldwide. O'Malley introduces Vatican II in the context of earlier church councils and highlights key issues dealt with in the council documents. Joseph Komonchak, in "Vatican II as an 'Event,'" shows how the interpretation of historical events affects one's understanding of them. In "Vatican II: Did Anything Happen?" O'Malley outlines the contrast between "conservatives" who tend to deny any real changes in Catholic thought before and after the council, and "liberals" who see changes as not only desirable but necessary. In "Against Forgetting," Stephen Schloesser builds on O'Malley's work, situating decrees and issues of Vatican II in the political and cultural context of the 20th century. Finally, in "The Times They Are a-Changin'," Neil Ormerod pulls together themes of the earlier articles, stressing that the conservative aspect of Catholicism, which emphasizes continuity, must always be balanced by a "missionary" or "progressive" ecclesiology that adapts Catholic teaching to the changing world. With its rich reflections on developments in Catholic religion, world politics, and culture, this is a valuable contribution. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. H. J. John emerita, Trinity University (DC)