This book is one of the best theological engagements with economics available. The critique of neoliberalism is spot-on: It is a type of class warfare that does not shrink the state but empowers it to protect the market from the people. The market is sublime and cannot be controlled by people. Neoliberalism is thus a type of theology for a deified market, and Eggemeier and Fritz respond with a compelling Christian theology of a God who wants mercy, not sacrifice. If you want a vision of a world beyond today’s suffering and inequality, read this book.---William T. Cavanaugh, DePaul University

List of Abbreviations | ix

Introduction | 1
Introducing Neoliberalism, 2 • Catholic Critique of Neoliberalism, 4 •
Chapter Outlines, 7 • Send Lazarus, 11

Part I : Catholic Social Thought and the Economy

1 Catholic Social Thought against Economism | 15
Modern Catholic Social Thought, 17 • John Paul II on
Economism, 20 • Benedict XVI: Against an Impersonal
Economy, 33 • Francis: No to a Faceless Economy, 46 •
Papal Continuity, 56

Part II: Neoliberalism

2 Neoliberal Capitalism | 65
Neoliberalism as PoliticalEconomy, 66 •
Neoliberalism as Common Sense, 76 •
Ethos of Mercilessness, 86

3 Sacrifice, Race, and Indifference | 94
Sacrifice Zones, Earth, and Slums, 96 • Racial Neoliberalism,
Mass Incarceration, and Mass Deportation, 110 •
Neoliberalism as Culture of Indifference, 123

Part III: Catholic Mercy in a Neoliberal Age

4 A Theology of Mercy | 133
Trinity, Mystery, and Mercy, 134 • Anthropology, Ecclesiology,
and Mercy, 144 • The Works and the Politics of Mercy, 153

5 The Politics of Mercy against Neoliberal Sacrifice | 164
Universal Destination of Goods, 165 • Visit the Sick, 167 •
Give Food, Drink, and Clothing, 175 • Abolitionism, 180 •
Ransom the Captive, 188 • Welcome the Stranger, 195

Conclusion: For Holistic Mercy | 205

Acknowledgments| 209

Notes | 211

Bibliography | 245

Index | 269