Vol. XXXVIII / 1 - Studia Moralia

MODELS AND MULTIVALENCE 59
growing mutual understanding between the two fields. For these
reasons alone, the absorption model must be used with great
care and caution. When used appropriately, it shows great
promise for understanding the ever-changing contours of the
relationship between spirituality and moral theology. When not,
it can blur (or even destroy) legitimate boundaries and offer
nothing substantial in their place.
Observations
The various strengths and weaknesses of the above models
can be overcome only by using them in close conjunction with
one another. The simultaneous juxtaposition of models will
create “a logical web” of insights that, in keeping with the
multivalent approach referred to earlier, can counteract the
weaknesses of any single one of them. The following remarks
focus on what such a web might look like and what
contributions each of the above models can make.
1. To begin with, the multivalent approach simply presumes
that the constantly changing contours of the disciplines
themselves precludes the possibility of ever arriving at a
definitive understanding of their ongoing interaction. All that
can hoped for are a series of focused insights that help to
describe their past interaction, their present way of relating, and
their orientation toward the future. Since relationships even
among theological disciplines are rarely simple and often
include a wide variety of subtle, even conflicting nuances, it
follows that the accuracy of the description of the relationship
between spirituality and moral theology will be a direct function
of the number of perspectives taken into account. 7 The five
models discussed above contribute to mapping out the changing
interface between the two disciplines. When juxtaposed with
7
This insight must be qualified by that of AVERY DULLES: “Admitting the
inevitability of such a pluralism of models, theology usually seeks to reduce
this pluralism to a minimum. The human mind, in its quest for explanations,
necessarily seeks unity.” See Models of the Church (Garden City, NY: Image
Books, 1974), 33.