Two Roads Less Traveled

Rating:
Summary: Living a Lie - Twice
Review: This book describes the escapades of a boy who became a priest. Nothing unusual about that. Then, the book details the difficulty of living a life of celibacy. Again, seen it, been there. The plot of this book portrays how the author never met the requirements of being a priest, but then projects this failure onto the very institution he was attempting (but never able)to become and other members of that institution. Nothing different about that either. There is absolutely nothing new about defrocked priests having affairs during their priesthood. But Jed O'Connor attempts to convert his personal failure into a lifetime achievement. The book, while written poorly, contains no new message and indirectly and perhaps directly exols those who were able to tolerate and carry the author's forbidden behaviors for many years. This is not a priest, this is not a Christian, this is just a lie! Is this pathology? There is a school of thought that regards any diversion of the power of one's official role by sexual behavior as representating that person as being a sexual preditor. What O'Connor fails to relate is that those all too frequent "Miter Mice", "Cassock Kittens" or any other woman (or men) allegedly attracted to men of the cloth, they do so because of the power they represent as priests or clergymen. This is common garden variety sexual assualt, according to many. Unfortunately perhaps for the author, by writing a book with real events opens the door to criticisms which the author would prefer not to hear and cannot defend. In my opinion, the book is clearly a tradegy - of which the author is, unfortunately, unaware. This book describes the type of person that not only every Catholic bishop should forbid to enter a house of formation but also every woman should avoid at all costs regarding any relationship whatsoever. In this respect, the book has merit. Right, wrong or indifferent, Jed O'Connor writes about the violation of a trust, and for this, there can be no excuse.

Rating:
Summary: Living a Lie - Twice
Review: This book describes the escapades of a boy who became a priest. Nothing unusual about that. Then, the book details the difficulty of living a life of celibacy. Again, seen it, been there. The plot of this book portrays how the author never met the requirements of being a priest, but then projects this failure onto the very institution he was attempting (but never able)to become and other members of that institution. Nothing different about that either. There is absolutely nothing new about defrocked priests having affairs during their priesthood. But Jed O'Connor attempts to convert his personal failure into a lifetime achievement. The book, while written poorly, contains no new message and indirectly and perhaps directly exols those who were able to tolerate and carry the author's forbidden behaviors for many years. This is not a priest, this is not a Christian, this is just a lie! Is this pathology? There is a school of thought that regards any diversion of the power of one's official role by sexual behavior as representating that person as being a sexual preditor. What O'Connor fails to relate is that those all too frequent "Miter Mice", "Cassock Kittens" or any other woman (or men) allegedly attracted to men of the cloth, they do so because of the power they represent as priests or clergymen. This is common garden variety sexual assualt, according to many. Unfortunately perhaps for the author, by writing a book with real events opens the door to criticisms which the author would prefer not to hear and cannot defend. In my opinion, the book is clearly a tradegy - of which the author is, unfortunately, unaware. This book describes the type of person that not only every Catholic bishop should forbid to enter a house of formation but also every woman should avoid at all costs regarding any relationship whatsoever. In this respect, the book has merit. Right, wrong or indifferent, Jed O'Connor writes about the violation of a trust, and for this, there can be no excuse.