Rating: 
Summary: Fine Print
Review: To understand the agenda behind this book, you should begin by reading the last part, the author's fantasy of Vatican III. The author lays out his politically correct dream of the church: no hierarchy, pro-contraception, pro-abortion, no revelation, no Bible, women priests (but not much of a priesthood left). The author, an excommunicated priest, is obviously no longer a Catholic, although adoring reviewers insist that he is. All this has nothing to do with Judaism or history, of course---indeed, the entire book has nothing to do with history (sources are routinely made up or truncated)---but it does show the dark motives behind this piece of anti-Catholicism.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure in Motive?
Review: I defer to the review made by J.J. Kwashnak of Aug. 29th, 2001.
The book is an eye opening historical tour de force of Christian-Jewish relations. Had that been the real purpose of a tome this size, it would be required reading. I was disappointed to find the real purpose of the author's writing in the final section of the book. After revealing the good, the bad, and the very ugly history (that I believe every Christian should become better acquainted with), he then proceeds to outline his vision of what should be addressed in a "Vatican III". He thinly vales his agenda in the name of anti-Semitism but, he enumerates all of the well known agenda items of a liberal-feminist theological ideal. I would rate this book with 5 stars had he been more genuine in his approach to healing the tragic scares of our relations with our "older brothers in faith".
Rating:
Summary: Bizarre logic
Review: This odd book ends up proving the opposite of what it claims to prove. Despite the suppressed and distorted textual evidence, Carroll ends up proving that the popes opposed all use of violence against Jews and opposed forced conversions. The fact that some Catholics---against the clear teaching of their church---engaged into anti-Semitic violence only shows that this church like any other has its sinners.
Rating:
Summary: A Thought Provoking Overview
Review: Carroll steps up to the plate with a very ambitious project - to look inside ourselves and especially the Catholic Church and see where the roots of anti-semitism lay. It's obvious from the start that he feels that the Church has not done enough to atone, or even really recognize, its own role in treating the Jews through history, of course culimnating in Carroll's starting point - the Holocaust. While much has been written of late about the Church and the Holocaust (The Catholic Church's official apology which falls far short of taking responsibility, the examination of "Hitler's Pope") Carroll takes us all the way back to the beginning, in the catecombs where the newly formed Christians tried to differentiate themselves from the Jews. Sometimes Carroll's writing style is a bit roundabout (instead of a fully linear history, he tries to tie many of the moments back to one region of Europe and his experiences there after World War II), but he does keep the story flowing.
It is obvious a lot of thought has gone into the narrative to try and find the continuous thread of a story. I found several of his points very observant and brought a new perspective to history. His talk about how Jews were treated as 2nd class citizens and thus were pushed into limited roles as merchants and money lenders served as a self perpetuating cycle to increase the hatred of the Jews themselves may seem obvious but they are incredibly important for pulling the story together and help you look at things anew. He obviously wanted to go further on the issue of religion and anti-semitism especially after Luther's reformation. Again and again, he talks about how rabidly anti-semetic Martin Luther was, and how this affect the Protestant movement tenants, going so far as to helping lay some of the social groundwork for the Holocaust in Germany. Yet he does not follow down this path too far so not to go afield of his review of the Catholic Church and the Jews. And here is where he has some problems with the book.
Had Carroll stuck to Christianity and the Jews in History, it would have been a good and thorough book. But rather he is building a case for further reformation in the Catholic Church. The entire book is a springboard for him to justify the convening of another Vatican Council (Vatican III). this last part detracts from the book as a whole and causes a strangle of his topic to be more narrowly defined. It turns what is an important and informative social/religious history into a "Look how bad things have been - we need to rectify it!" social change call to arms.
Rating: 
Summary: Constantine's Sword
Review: Any Christian or Jew caring about their history should look at this book as required reading. It is a must read for all Jews in particular. For me it was painful reading but very well researched and documented. My thanks to James Carroll who filled in details in the history of my people, the Jews.
Rating:
Summary: Sword of Constantine
Review: This is an exceptional history of the Christian church and anti-Semitism beginning at the time of Jesus and continuing until today. The author is a former priest who taught at Harvard and is a excellent, critical historian. The book is well documented. It is (should be) a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the seeds of anti-Semitism.
Rating:
Summary: What Penance, What Confession?
Review: The evidence presented by James Carroll is overwhelming. This is one of those life-changing books that cause you to question every belief. Someone once said that religion is that which one holds most true. This book challenges to reconcile religion with Church, as that truth. Having read the reviews, I appreciate some of the glossing of history. But the case of anti-Semitism being integral to Catholic Theology cannot be ignored, and is quite compelling. The myths and the stereotypes we often heard, are brought to clarity by Mr. Carroll's compelling investigation. Not having the history background of some of the reviewers, I defer to their criticism. But they fail to dismiss this important work, on the question posed. On the subject of Pius XII, central to the climax of Catholic inspired anti-Semitism, seems a point missed. I'm sure I'll be doing more research, but the question of whether or not he enabled the holocaust seems a history of contradictions. His important history seems to be like the history of most people. It was a history of change, apologism, and complexity. Based on Mr. Carroll's work, I conclude that the change in Pacelli came the day his ghetto gates were breached, and 1200 Jews were taken to their execution at Auschwitz. The "in your face" event seems to created Pacelli's, and the Church's, epiphany from antiliberal hope of resurgence of empire to defender of the faith. This book has added several additional items on my to-read list. I applaud Mr. Carroll's call for confession, penance, and reconciliation. Like Henry IV's ultimate humiliation to appease Pope Gregory VII, the Church, for it's sins, must deal with it's cruelty, ignorance, and Machiavellian decisions, lest some future faith worship the sacred with the term perfidious Catholics.
Rating:
Summary: A Mystery Unveiled
Review: James Carroll has done a masterful job in his new book "Constantine's Sword". He may try to cover too much but I wonder if the mystery of Christian Anti Semitism could be handled fairly and adequately in a less sweeping approach. His critics' complaints (minor for the most part) can be counter balanced by his courage, writing skill, and personal honesty. He openned new vistas to this 81 year old. The book is long and at times tediously detailed but it is worth it. I recommend it to all who take religion seriously but not literally.
Rating: 
Summary: Esau is starting to repent
Review: It was amazing to me, how James Carroll, almost certainly unwittingly, documented how the Roman Empire, and its successor, the Roman Catholic Church, are indeed the spiritual heirs of Esau, Jacob's brother, as the Talmud holds. Time after time, he documents Xian successionism, and how the fact that Jews still exist causes a jealous rage in Esau's spiritual children. This book gives me great hope that true change is indeed coming.
Rating:
Summary: anyone have a better explantion?
Review: If Carroll set out to provoke, antagonize, irritate, anger and spark debate, he has succeeded. What makes this book important is the reaction it has generated. For this alone, the book needs to be read...One can only ask, "Does anyone have a better explanation for the centuries of anti-Semitism?
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