BOOK REVIEWS 349

Homosexuality and Christian Faith: Questions of Consciencefor the Churches.

Edited by Walter Wink. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 1999. 133

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pp. n.p.

Walter Wink, professor of biblical interpretation at Auburn Theologic'al

Seminary in New York, gets points for diversity in his collection of essays.
Among the authors are prominent theologian William Sloane Coffin, a Lu-
theran bishop, Episcopalian theologians Morton Kelsey and Barbara Kelsey,
Peggy Campolo, wife of evangelist Tony Campolo, and Father Richard Rohr, a
Franciscan serving in the New Mexico Province. Unfortunately, the diversity
of authors does not reflect a diversity of thought. The obvious assumption,
often stated and sometimes not, in every essay is that homosexuality is a natu-
ral condition and is neither immoral nor ungodly on its face. While there is
not unanimous agreement within the book whether it is the result of genetics,
at a minimum the authors argue for moral approval of homosexuality. For the
reader who disagrees with that assumption (or fact, as the authors believe), the
book quicldy becomes a tired repetition of old arguments that will neither go
away nor suffer to be refuted. For those who agree, the book affirms their
beliefs and encourages them to continue fighting the good fight.
Wink divides the essays into six broad categories covering everything from
accepting gay Christians into the church to the proper understanding of scrip-
tural proscriptions of homosexuality. While Wink and his fellow essayists
might hope to build some consensus regarding their arguments on the former,
the essays on the latter, Wink's in particular, merely highlight intractable dis-
agreements within the Christian community. In his essay discussing the Bible
and homosexuality, Wink deals exclusively with textual issues of affirming ho-
mosexuality. Wink's analysis reveals that the Bible does not say what most
Christians think it does, and when it does, it does not mean what it purports to
say. He finally concludes, with sweeping finality and confidente that might
shock your average Sunday school teacher, that "the crux of the m a t t e r . . , is
simply that the Bible has no sexual ethic. Instead, it exhibits a variety of sexual
mores" (p.44). Stated bluntly, Wink believes that sexual morality is deter-
mined by contemporary culture. In all fairness, he does not advocate the
wholesale abandonment of biblical standards of sexuality; however, Wink's de-
nial of an absolute sexual ethic based on biblical standards inherently weakens
the validity of every biblical standard of sexuality, even those he would sup-
port. While this slippery slope argument assumes the worst in human nature,
when it comes to sex and sexuality, human nature gives little reason for
optimism.
Wink's compilation does not make a unique contribution to the conten-
tious issue of homosexuality and Christianity. The ideas and arguments are far
more redundant than they are novel, which is particularly disappointing given
350 JOURNAL OF CHURCH AND STATE

the need for a fresh approach to an issue which has both sides sharpening the
spears they are willing to fall on.

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BENJAMIN VETTER
Baylor University
Waco, Texas

Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power. By Michele Dillon.

Boston, Mass.: Cambridge University Press, 1999, 289 pp. $59.95 cloth;
$19.95 paper.
Michele Dillon, associate professor of sociology at Yale University, faces
the identity situation of Catholics in Dignity, Women's Ordination Conference
[WOC], and Catholics for a Free Choice [CFFC]. These organizations profess
an active commitment to Catholicism, but nonetheless dissent on issues of
homosexuality, women's ordination, and abortion rights.
Beginning with contrasting sociological theofies of society, community,
and diversity, the author considers these groups especially privileged. Their
dialectical framework of adhesion and rejeefion makes them emancipatory
projects seeking equality from the present oppressions of the church. Within
a social constructionist perspecfive of religion, Dillon portrays these pro-
change Catholics a s a deliberative cornmunity challenging the interpretative
monopoly of hierarchical church authofity.
Dillon's research methods cover a careful analysis of the three groups'
literature, wfitten replies to a mailed questionnaire, and personal in-depth in-
terviews of members. Her moving presente at the Dignity/Boston's Mass
touches the essence of Catholic identification with tradition and sacramental
symbolism. As with WOC and CFFC, the pull of Catholicism's historical
roots, added to its global presence, assures the community's decision to prac-
tice Catholic liturgy. Dillon compares these convicfions with the conservative
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Dillon finds agreement in a
"common but contested doctrinal tradition" (p.217), debunking the postulate
of a fractured church.
The author interviews twenty Catholic theologians from the Boston Theo-
logical Insfitute and the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. These pro-
fessional scholars offer reasoned arguments remarkably similar to the pro-
change Catholics. The Catholic tradition, as they see it, can logically correct
contemporary official teaching. Hence, through dialogue and consent, Catho-
lic identity is a becoming, nota being; a matter of meaning, rather than facts.
Ultimately, how ordinary Catholics in fact live defines Catholic identity, not
church officials.
Dillon's sociological philosophy offers challenges. Exact historical analyses
demanda closer reading of church infallibility and circumstances at Vatican I
and II. The dual limitations of definitions in content--only divine revela-
tion--and definers--only the pope "ex cathedra" of Body of Bishops, are es-