This book commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, which concluded in 1965. A selection of essays by distinguished Irish theologians offers an objective assessment of the historical reception and pastoral implementation of Vatican II in Ireland with the benefit of half a century¿s hindsight. The authors discuss from a variety of different perspectives the theological significance of the Council for the self-understanding and reform of the Catholic church, both in the past and for the future.

Contents: Pádraic Conway: Ireland's Ambivalent Relationship with the Second Vatican Council - Patrick Masterson: Remembering Vatican II - Dermot A. Lane: Keeping the Memory Alive: Vatican II as an Enduring Legacy for Reform of the Church - Gabriel Flynn:Ressourcementand Vatican II: Reform and Renewal - Seán Freyne:Dei Verbum: The Bible in the Post-Conciliar Church - Jim Corkery: The Reception of Vatican II in Ireland over Fifty Years - Jacinta Prunty: Reception of the Call of Vatican II for Renewal of Religious Life: Case Study of the Irish Federation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity - Ethna Regan: Vatican II and Human Rights: From Religious Freedom to Frontline Advocacy - Linda Hogan: Catholic Theological Ethics since Vatican II - Andrew Pierce: The Ecumenical Church of Vatican II - Gerard O'Hanlon: Vatican II as a Resource for the Renewal of the Church in Ireland in the Twenty-First Century - Gabriel Daly: The Church:Semper Reformanda Declan Marmion: The Influence of Karl Rahner at Vatican II - Michael Drumm: The Extremely Important Issue of Education - Joseph O'Leary: The Future of Collegiality - Fainche Ryan: Vatican II and the Question of Ministry - Enda McDonagh: A New Style of Church and Theology After Vatican II - Patrick Hannon: Church and State in Ireland: Perspectives of Vatican II.