In this concise, intelligent, and richly informative study of one of the last important American manualists, Genilo offers students of Catholic moral theology a sharp diagnosis of the complex mind and method of John Ford as well as a rich survey of the strengths and weaknesses of the larger moral tradition in which he operated but was ultimately unable to ... Read moretranscend. Theological Studies This is a fascinating historical study of a key figure in a turbulent period in Catholic moral theology. The politics of the time as well as Ford's struggle with alcohol addiction add poignancy. There is also much to be learned about moral theology, its subject matter and method as well as the factors, both personal and political, that affect the application of that method. Theological Book Review This work is significant contribution to the history of moral theology. The author has accessed the writings of his chosen subject and has examined them judiciously ... this book should be required reading for any course in the history of moral theology. CATHOLIC HISTORICAL REVIEW This is one of the better intellectual histories of one of the major forces in Catholic theology of the twentieth century; a man who set the stage for contemporary moral discourse. Catholic Library World Students of Catholic moral theology ought to study this book carefully, since it not only offers an exacting treatment of one of the most famous twentieth century American Catholic moral theologians, but also because it provides a window into the mental world of the manualists - and the gaze it offers is ultimately one bordering on moral schizophrenia, full of inconsistencies, ironies, and contradictions ... certainly the most informative book-length treatment of John Ford to date, and scholars, students, and interested laypeople will get a great deal from Genilo's work. American Catholic Studies Show Less