Struggle, Condemnation, Vindication: John Courtney Murray's Journey toward Vatican II

No American Catholic has had greater impact on the doctrinal beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church than Fr. John Courtney Murray, SJ. With almost no power to wield and not much more fame, Murray influenced Catholic doctrine on religious freedom in a dramatic and almost unparalleled way. He did this through his careful scholarship, courage in the face of powerful opposition, and a delicate balance of faithfulness to tradition with theological creativity.

In Struggle, Condemnation, V…