Authority in the Church

Authority in the Church situates all exercises of authority in the context of the ecclesiastical community - its fundamental norms and values as well as the tradition that has shaped them. It also explores how dissent forms as integral function for all church authority. His major claims are that church authority requires a delicate balance between charisms and offices for its healthy functioning and is sacramental in character. The latter claim means that the historical development of church authority provides crucial clues for its theological understanding. The author addresses the distinctive features of Roman Catholic authority and the need for the free exercise of speech within the Church.