Thomas GUARINO, The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II: Continuity and Reversal in Catholic Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018. Pp. x + 214. $28.00 pb. ISBN 978-0-8028-7438-2. Reviewed by Benjamin BROWN, Lourdes University, Sylvania, OH 43560. 

In The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II Thomas Guarino has provided an excellent, well-grounded hermeneutic of Vatican II and analysis of the most contentious issues dealt with by the council.  His work is refreshingly irenic, balanced, and fair, treating complex matters that continue to be heatedly debated in a manner that even those who may disagree with him will appreciate.

Guarino’s thesis is that Vatican II represents genuine development of doctrine, which exhibits both continuity and newness.  Further, there are also some reversals of previous ordinary (largely papal) teaching, but these contradictions can be shown to be in line with the broad (and older) tradition such that they are authentic developments rather than distortions.

In order to make his case, Guarino proceeds in four main parts.  First, he looks at the idea of development of doctrine.  For this, Vincent of Lerins, the subject of a previous book, is his touchstone.  From Vincent (and John Henry Newman) Guarino takes two main ideas.  First, there is indeed change in church teaching, which is natural, good, and to be expected.  Secondly, it matters most what kind of change, of which there are two basic types: organic development and distortion.  The faith can exhibit the former, but never the latter; it can deepen, expand, change shape, be clarified, and have particular aspects drawn out with greater emphasis, but it retains the same nature and fundamental character.

Next, Guarino looks at how this issue arises at Vatican II.  He provides context and background, examines some of the debate over the interpretation of the council, and offers several key concepts for his own hermeneutic.  One of the latter is the principle of analogy, which he argues is used intentionally by the council fathers though in different language (a quote from Yves Congar is adduced several times).  His case could have been made more strongly, but I think that he is fundamentally correct and draws very helpfully on analogical thinking to articulate the teaching of the council.

In a third movement, Guarino examines briefly the controversial issues raised at the council and explains what is at stake.  He shows how analogical reasoning was central to the council’s approach to a variety of issues, especially ecumenical ones.  In this section and the next, Guarino delves into a great deal of conciliar history and details of specific debates, drawing heavily on the writing of Gerard Phillips.

Finally, with a lot of groundwork having been laid, the last and longest chapter tackles each major issue that has been controversial in terms of its continuity with the Catholic tradition.  The subjects he examines are: ecumenism (mostly in the previous chapter), collegiality and papal primacy, Scripture and Tradition, inerrancy, and the most difficult, religious liberty.  On each topic he carefully lays out the issues at stake, the history of debate behind the final text, an examination of where there are continuities and discontinuities, and a final analysis of how the teaching exhibits genuine development rather than distortion.  Throughout the chapter, he frankly acknowledges that there are a handful of actual reversals of recent Church teaching.  But he contends that such reversals are only of ordinary, non-infallible teaching, and often even then there is a deeper point of continuity to be found.

I would have liked to see more extensive citations of sources, both regarding points of continuity and reversal.  There may be too much reliance on Phillips’ interpretations.  And I would contend that when we take seriously the anti-Catholic and anti-religious context in which 19th century papal teaching occurred, there is even greater continuity between it and Dignitatis Humanae than Guarino realizes.  Others may dispute various particulars as well.

Despite such critiques, Disputed Teachings of Vatican II is an excellent treatment of the issue of development of doctrine at the council.  Guarino’s arguments are clear, articulate, well-grounded, and sound, and his analysis is incisive.  He accurately draws out the points of continuity and discontinuity and situates the latter relative to the broad tradition.  He is able to make a strong case that the doctrinal changes of Vatican II are authentic and proper developments of doctrine.  The book is too advanced for most undergraduates today but is an excellent text for a graduate course.  More importantly, it should be widely read and become a standard reference point for all things Vatican II.