Church, state and conscience: collected essays Book

3 1/2 stars.
I have mixed feelings about this book/collection of essays. On the one hand, I greatly admire Ratzinger/BXVI's way of thinking--I admire the role he played during the council, and I admire his willingness to pursue a "middle path" (even if I, at times, disagree with it.) Moreover, the fact that he, in some sense, not a "traditionalist" in the strict sense of the term, but rather a product Ressourcement Theology makes him good in my book. Likewise, I think the essays on ecumenism in this collection were very enlightening as well. They recognize the real distinctions between Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Catholicism--while doing so in a constructive and charitable manner. On the other hand, I find that the essays on Catholic Social Teaching, Eschatology, Liberation (theology), and Utopia were lacking (though interesting in their own way, especially in their critical appropriation of the Enlightenment) because they, at least in my opinion, construct a caricature of what they are arguing against (Marxism, certain forms of liberation theology, etc.) And as a result of this, it makes it quite hard to read, especially if you are sympathetic to _both_ Ratzinger and the things he is criticizing.