Edward T. Mechmann graduated from Columbia College magna cum
laude in 1981 and from Harvard Law School cum laude in 1984. He later received a
Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the St. Joseph's Seminary Institute of Religious Studies
in 1994. Following law school, he was employed as a prosecutor in New York City from 1984 to 1993
when he and his wife left to serve as lay missionaries in West Virginia. Since 1994, he has been
employed by the Archdiocese of New York, first as the Coordinator of the Public Policy Education
Network, and presently as the Assistant Director of the Family Life+Respect Life Office. In that
capacity he assisted in the development of the marriage preparation booklet, Partners in Life
and Love (Alba House, 1996). He has written several articles on religion and law for The
New York Law Journal.
Reviews
"One of the least known and yet greatest treasures of the Catholic Church is its social teaching.
So often this teaching is embodied in papal documents and episcopal letters which are not easily
accessible to many Cathoics. In this slim 83-page book, Mechmann gives the reader the basics of
Catholic social teaching. Mechmann, a lawyer with a Master of Arts in Religious Studies, works for
the Archdiocese of New York as assistant director of the Family Life+Respect Life Office. In the
preface he states: 'Cathoic social teaching concerns the right ordering of society, so that its
members may fulfill their earthly vocations and attain their eternal destiny. As such, it is a
branch of moral theology, and is dedicated to the formation of conscience of those who are responsible
for the organization of the human community.' This teaching, then, affects all of us who live and
work in this world. Basing his work on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and on papal
and conciliar teachings, Mechmann begins by examining the nature of the human person, which is
central to Catholic social teaching. The human person is made in the image and likeness of God, yet
human nature is flawed by original sin and is inclined to evil and error. From these considerations
Mechmann moves on to consider the social nature of humans and their activity, which is to be marked
by freedom and accountability. In the second part of the work he looks at the general themes of
Catholic social teaching. Here he takes up such topics as the centrality and dignity of the human
person, the natural law, the common good, and social justice. He notes that human life must be
protected by society, in which all members have rights and obligations. While much of this
teaching can be on the level of general principles, they are principles that guide and govern our
life and the judgments we make. In an appendix, the author relates these principles to questions
and problems raised by the application of Catholic social teaching. This is a rich resource for
anyone seeking a primer on Catholic social teaching or wanting to refresh his or her knowledge of
these basics needed to guide and govern our lives." --Liguorian,
February 2001
"A new look at some 'old' social justice issues: Likely helpful to parish social justice
committees and others who ponder the Church's teaching and society's challenges: Small but thought-
and faith-packed book from lawyer, one-time prosecutor, lay missionary, husband, father and experienced
Church administrator (in NY Archdiocese), Edward T. Mechmann. Title: God, Society and the Human
Person: The Basics of Catholic Social Teaching. The book is rooted in an effort to collect Catholic
social teaching as per the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other Church documents, viewed
from principles and themes deemed 'foundational.' While aiming at such a wide-based task, the book
keeps to a readable text with practical applications; it is never an academic exercise. In 2 parts:
Christian Anthropology (Nation of the Human Person), examined in 6 chapters; and General Themes of
Catholic Social Teaching (13 sections). With discussion tips as well as a practical appendix:
Questions / Problems Raised by the Application of Catholic Social Teaching." --Crux
of the News, May 7, 2001
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