How can an authoritative church avoid authoritarianism? How can a hierarchied church defend religious freedom and support the democratic revolution in world politics? George Weigel's exploration of these issues of the modern Catholic debate over freedom touches concerns far beyond Catholic circles.

Essays on issues in the modern Catholic debate over freedom; includes the issues of authoritarianism/and authoritative church; the dialgue with modern science and the humanities/ancient religious tradition; a hierarchical church/religious freedom and democratic revolution in world politics; the war/peace debate; religious freedom as the first human right; and the religious argument over the American economy.