Abstract
In 1983 a pastoral letter was written on war and peace,
"The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response."
A pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching and the U. S.
economy, "Economic Justice for All" was published in 1986.
Both of these documents were widely promoted in articles,
workshops, lectures, television. They were carefully researched. Experts in politics, warfare, the economy, ethics were
called on to offer advice and testimony. The language was
polished. Those pastoral letters were of the greatest importance.
In March 1988 the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops completed the first draft of "Partners in the Mystery
of Redemption, a Pastoral Response to Women's Concerns for
Church and Society."
