Stephen Pattison is Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Practice and H. G. Wood Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham. His latest books are The Challenge of Practical Theology (2007), Seeing Things: Deepening Relations with Visual Artefacts (2007) and Saving Face: Enfacement, Shame, Theology (2013).

"Stephen Pattison has performed an important task by raising so sharply important issues for all engaged in pastorcal care, issues which will not go away. This is a book to be read and discussed." --Theology

• General editors' Preface; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction: The challenge of liberation theology; PART 1 - LIBERATION THEOLOGY; 1. The background to liberation theology; 2. The nature and content of liberation theology; 3. The methods of liberation theology; 4. Putting liberation theology to work; PART 2 - THE SOCO-POLITICAL CONTEXT OF PASTORAL CARE; 5. The socio-political context of mental disorder; 6. Who becomes mentally ill?; 7. The historical and social context of the psychiatric hospital; 8. The socio-political order of the psychiatric hospital: the staff; 9. The socio-political order of the psychiatric hospital: the patients; 10. The 'brave new world' of community care; 11. The plight of mentally ill people; PART 3 - THE POLITICS OF PASTORAL CARE; 12. Pastoral care with mentally ill people; 13. Socio-political awareness and commitment; 14. Unction in the function: pastoral care in socio-political perspective; 15. Liberating pastoral care; 16. What is to be done? Towards a socio-politically aware and committed pastoral care; 17. Bringing it all back home? Pastoral care with women; conclusion; Notes; Index.