Summaries / Resúmenes - Studia Moralia

244 MARTIN MCKEEVERdeveloper of this tradition while the final section reflects on theperson of Häring and the challenge posed by his thought to thefuture of moral theology.Drawing on the teaching of Veritatis splendor, Vidal beginswith an acknowledgement of Tradition as a locus theologicusfrom which specific ‘traditions’ derive their authority. Withinthis latter category, he suggests (144) that we can locate specificmoral theological traditions (Thomist, Franciscan, Jesuit). In asimilar way, Häring could be located in the Alphonsian tradition,but also within that of the ‘Tübingen School’.To understand the Alphonsian moral theological tradition,Vidal continues, we must look at the place of Alphonsus in thehistory of moral-theological reflection and of the reception ofhis thought on the part of the Church and the Magisterium.Having briefly noted the key historical events leading to theacknowledgement of Alphonsus in ecclesiastical terms, Vidalidentifies three key underlying orientations which characterizethe theology of Alphonsus: pastoral need, the centrality of salvationand pastoral benignity (149-152). Pastoral need refers tothe marked tendency of Alphonsus to compose moral theologyon the basis of pastoral experience and with a view to pastoralservice. The emphasis on salvation refers to the way in whichAlphonsus insists on locating moral action within an optic ofsalvation, that is to say as a way of life which leads humanbeings to God through grace. This perspective also emphasisesthe centrality of the individual subject. Pastoral benignity is tobe understood as the middle way proposed by Alphonsus in histime between laxism and rigorism.Having thus presented some essential elements of theAlphonsian moral tradition, Vidal moves on to the figure ofBernhard Häring as an interpreter and developer of this tradition(152). That Alphonsus comes to occupy the place he enjoysin the history of moral theology, Vidal suggests, is in no smallmeasure due to the work of Häring and other Redemptoristssuch as L.Vereecke and D.Capone (153). Despite his prominencein the 19 th century, it is only in the writings of the 20 thcentury that the contribution of Alphonsus is acknowledged.The content of this contribution, as presented by Vidal, consistsin a range of general and specific themes. At a general level,Häring recognises the important links between the moral theologyof Alphonsus and his understanding of dogma, spirituality