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For Ludwig, Berrigan’s major contribution to Catholic social teaching is also his recovery, rehabilitation, and renewal of the prophetic voice and of prophetic action. In his chapter, Ludwig begins with an examination of Berrigan’s theological method. He finds, in short, that “Berrigan’s method is experiential and historical, heavily dependent upon scripture, and orientated toward decision and action.” He is particularly appreciative of Berrigan’s emphasis on the social dimensions of theology, which serve to temper the “hyper-individualism” of the American cultural ethos. Berrigan, according to Ludwig, has been a major force in making non-violence normative in Catholic social thought. More so, through his efforts to directly challenge the war-making state, Berrigan – and those who have acted with him – have introduced “resistance” as a vital component of Christian non-violence.

This chapter takes a number of priests with a public profile and examines the extent to which they are prophetic voices or complicit functionaries. Choosing the French priest-writer Jean Sulivan (1913-1980) as a comparator, Eamon Maher examines the published work of Joseph Dunn, Vincent Twomey, Mark Patrick Hederman and Brendan Hoban, before concluding that they all share the prophetic tendency of raising uncomfortable and often unpopular issues while remaining within the institution. He further argues that being so closely aligned to the Church makes it difficult, and professionally dangerous, for priests to criticise certain practices within the institution. However, while retaining a huge love of, and devotion to, the main tenets of Catholicism, these men nevertheless feel obliged to point out things that are going wrong, even when expressing such views can often involve them in conflict with their superiors at home and in Rome.

Using Charles Taylor’s A Catholic Modernity? as its starting point, David Cochrane explores the evolving role of Catholicism in Ireland over the last half century and concludes that the disentangling of the Church from the dominant political and cultural institutions of society has paradoxically extended many of the very values Catholicism celebrates. Due to the severing of its close traditional connection to the State, the Church has rediscovered its original mission to provide a prophetic spiritual voice, especially in favour of the poor, and to align itself more closely with the concerns of its founder, Jesus Christ.