March 17, 2014

The Catholic University of America Press announces the publication of A Catechism for Business: Tough Ethical Questions and Insights from Catholic Teaching edited by Andrew V. Abela , dean of the School of Business and Economics, and Joseph E. Capizzi , associate professor and director of moral theology in the School of Theology and Religious Studies. The editors of the book will host a book launch event on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. at the Catholic Information Center, 1501 K Street, N.W., Suite 175, Washington, D.C. A Catechism for Business presents the teachings of the Catholic Church as they relate to more than 100 specific and challenging moral questions that have been asked by business leaders. Abela and Capizzi have assembled the relevant quotations from recent Catholic social teaching as responses to these questions. Questions and answers are grouped under major topics such as marketing, finance, and investment, and cover issues related to advertising, hiring and firing, investing, outsourcing, wages, working conditions, and unions.

"The Church's social teachings are a 'best-kept secret' because they are often presented as answers without questions," said Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago. "Dr. Capizzi and Dean Abela have provided the questions, from the heart of the business enterprise, along with accurate but succinct responses from Catholic social doctrine. In their expert hands, the teaching has a chance to be heard."

According to the publisher, business ethics questions can be too subtle for definitive yes/no answers, so the book offers no more and no less than Church teaching on each particular question. Where the Church has offered definitive answers, the book provides them. When the Church has not, the book offers guidelines for reflection and insights into what one should consider in given situations.The book's question-and-answer approach invites quick reference for tough questions and serves as a basis for reflection and deeper study in the rich Catholic tradition of social doctrine.

MEDIA: To request a copy of the book for review purposes, contact Brian Roach at roach@cua.edu or Catherine Szczybor at szczyborc@cua.edu .

To request an interview with Abela and/or Capizzi , contact Katie Lee or Mary McCarthy Hines in the Office of Public Affairs at 202-319-5600 or cua-public-affairs@cua.edu .

To attend the launch event, contact Beatriz Lopez at lopezbe@cua.edu .