In this volume leading ethicists and theologians address "conscience," a term with loaded meaning and controversy in the Catholic Church in recent decades around issues like political participation, human sexuality, war and institutional violence, and theological dissent. Many essays in this challenging and far-ranging volume focus on the tension between the primacy of conscience (codified at Vatican II) and the processes and cultures of Catholic institutions, including schools, hospitals, and medical research facilities. Intended for a scholarly audience, this valuable collection will also appeal to those involved in Catholic health care, catechetical work, and pastoral ministry.