The term 'critical theology' expresses the blend of critical social theory and liberation theology which distinguishes the thought of Gregory Baum. In these essays, Baum engages contemporary theologians and social thinkers such as David Tracy, John Milbank, Allan Bloom and Emil Fackenheim on the meaning of Catholic social teaching for the social justice movement in North America. In addition, he assesses Vatican II's openness to modernity and John Paul II's thinking on structural sin and on liberal capitalism.