THE JOURNEY IS MY HOME

Rating:
Summary: Poor detail and lack of relevance - inessential
Review: This book, written by ex-nun Lavinia Byrne, is an autobiography focusing on how she was forced out of her order by the Vatican because it would not allow her to even discuss the issue of women priests. Though Lavinia attempts to look at all sides of the issue, she actually comes across as having written a book seriously lacking in detail.

The discussion of her early life is very poor, and Lavinia appears to just be thinking that what she has done ever since first joining the IBVM in the early 1960s was almost mapped out at the time. Lavinia never discusses how she came to think the way she did, and instead focuses only on the way in which certain groups like the Catholic Truth Society just focus on such issues os contraception in ways that were different from her childhood.

We do see the way in which the Vatican successfully censored her book (apparently through conservative laity in Britain), but, again, though the writing style is clear, we are left empty of understanding except of Lavinia's desire to state her opinions in ways the Vatican would not allow a nun to do.

Given that, unlike the papacy and its teachings, the idea of female ordination in the Catholic Church (the theme to a considerable degree of this work) is already destined - was even predestined, one could say - to be a passing fad, this book also lacks relevance. In the future, I feel, books on female ordination in the Catholic Church will be only found in archives of secular academia.

John Paul's writings and his policy, on the other hand, are shaping and will shape the Catholic Church as long as it exists.

Though an easy read, this book is not really a reward.

Rating:
Summary: Every Catholic should read this book
Review: This is a book which everyone who cares about the Catholic Church should read. It is the story of a journey - a journey made by Lavinia Byrne from her middle class Catholic family background, a journey that took her into the confines of a convent and ultimately to a clash with the Vatican. Byrne's crime? To talk openly about the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Catholic Church. The Vatican ordered the American publishers of her book on women priests to pulp it. The Congregation for Religious put enormous pressure on Byrne's own religious order to stop her talking about the issue. Ultimately she was forced out of religious life. This is a fascinating account of the tensions within the Catholic Church. Do not miss it!!