by Rod Orange. Published by Steele Roberts Aotearoa, 2019. Reviewed by Peter Slocum

This scholarly book is a strange journey in the sense that for the most part the book presents a catalogue of emerging merit-worthy endeavours by well-intentioned people — endeavours that seemingly end in fizzled failure. But that’s not the whole story.

Orange records (albeit in too much detail at times) the story of the emergence and development of the spirituality and activism of Catholic/Christian laity from the ghetto of a centralised and over-institutionalised Church.

“See, Judge, Act” was the catch-cry and method formulated by Belgian priest Joseph Cardijn in the 1930s to equip young people, especially, to bring about the Christian transformation of society — the mission Jesus left in our hands.

Level 4 Lockdown has demonstrated that effective change comes about by individuals “seeing, judging and acting” but most importantly by us all working together. Life goes on without overbearing institutions.

I found parts of this book heavy going, but the closing chapters are resplendent with hope and encouragement that the Christian transformation of society is awaiting and is possible.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 249 June 2020: 32