Family Ethics

Practices for Christians

Julie Hanlon Rubio

Narrated by Becky White

Available from Audible

Book published by Georgetown University Press

How can ordinary Christians find moral guidance for the mundane dilemmas they confront in their daily lives? To answer this question, Julie Hanlon Rubio brings together a rich Catholic theology of marriage and a strong commitment to social justice to focus on the place where the ethics of ordinary life are played out: the family.

Sex, money, eating, spirituality, and service. According to Rubio, all are areas for practical application of an ethics of the family. In each area, intentional practices can function as acts of resistance to a cultural and middle-class conformity that promotes materialism over relationships. These practices forge deep connections within the family and help families live out their calling to be in solidarity with others and participate in social change from below. It is through these everyday moral choices that most Christians can live out their faith—and contribute to progress in the world.

Julie Hanlon Rubio is associate professor of Christian ethics at Saint Louis University. She is the author of A Christian Theology of Marriage and Family and coeditor (with Charles E. Curran) of Readings in Moral Theology No. 15.

REVIEWS:

“This book dives into the tradition and situates itself within academic discussions, but it is written in accessible prose that is always connected to the practical and everyday lives of families. It is certainly appropriate for the educated non-specialist, and will be an invaluable resource for pastors and other Christian leaders ministering to families.”

—The Way

“Even coming from a rich Catholic background of understanding, her concepts and applications can be used by any denomination.... Anyone looking for a refreshing read on family ethics will not be disappointed with Dr. Rubio's work.”

—Theological Book Review

“Very compelling indeed.... Rubio provides the theological community with a new and refreshing way of thinking about the 'goods of marriage.' ... This book is a 'must read' for anyone who is interested in family life, marriage and relationships in general. It will provoked much discussion in many areas of sexual morality as well as making ordinary married couples feel more at home in theological discussions on sexuality, family and marriage.”

—The Furrow

“Rubio outlines the thickest and most accessible vision yet of Catholic family life in contemporary America.... Rubio's book should gain a very wide audience, for its significance goes beyond advancing the conversation in marriage and family ethics. The book is also suggestive of a way forward for Catholicism generally, one that advances on the lightweight accomodationism of liberals and the unfailing political severity and legalism of conservatives. How so? By an actual retrieval of some of the best work done in early 20th century Catholicism. Instead of simply rejecting anything 'pre-Vatican II' or inventing some supposed set of free-floating pieties that will 'return' us to those days, Rubio actually seeks out the 'nuanced' and 'rigorous analysis' of the literature of that time. In it, she finds both the counterculturalism she desires and the realism she needs. Her work here is suggestive for moral theologians a caricature of the evils of "the moral manuals" may overlook much of value that was unfortunately lost amidst the politics of the postconciliar Church.”

—Catholic Books Review

“Suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, especially those preparing for ministry, or adult study groups.”

—Religious Studies Review

“Not simply a Christian 'how-to' manual on the challenge of applying Christian moral teaching to the family; [Rubio] provides a thorough ethical analysis of family life informed by a rich theology of Christian marriage, an astute reading of diverse ethical traditions, and a healthy leavening of wisdom gained from personal experience. Quite simply, with this volume, Julie Hanlon Rubio has now emerged as one of the most insightful theologians today on the theology of marriage and family.”

—Richard R. Gaillardetz, Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies, University of Toledo

“A splendid re-visioning of the vocations of marriage and family for Catholics in today's world. Moving past the moral debates of the Vatican II era, Rubio inspires and challenges by linking the social vocation of the family to the concrete practices and problems of family life. She speaks from the realism and wisdom of experience, backed by current data on real-world social trends, relationships, and human behavior. Rubio is that rare voice that manages to keep ideals in clear view while appreciating the importance of negotiation, compromise, persistence, and practicality. This book will satisfy everyone from scholars to students to all those working out connections between faith and family.”

—Lisa Sowle Cahill, Monan Professor of Theology, Boston College