Rating: 
Summary: Gripping, infuriating, heartbreaking.
Review: I found this book insightful, easy to read and to follow. The subject of this book, I feel, is not just a Catholic Church problem but it is also a society problem. Every child that has been abused by a priest, teacher, doctor or parent is spiritually and emotionally wounded. Unfortunitely without treatment the abuse will affect every aspect of their life in one way or another. What is so totally mind blowing is the fact that a Church who's only reason for existence is to teach about Jesus and his message of right and wrong, has chosen to, instead, protect the business side of the church and left thousands of children to blow in the wind by protecting the crimes of their representatives, the priests who abuse. And by doing so has allowed even more children to be abused over and over. I would highly recommend any adult to read this book and realize that a child does not lie about abuse to get attention and a lot of the time can not bring themselves to talk about their abuse for many years and sometime that means even into late adulthood. And even though the church says it's just about receiving money it is more about justice and protecting the innocents of all children present and future. An excellent well balanced book that you can't put down no matter how disurbing you fine the subject.
Rating:
Summary: A Book Every Parent Should Read Regardless of Religious View
Review: I found this book insightful, easy to read and to follow. The subject of this book, I feel, is not just a Catholic Church problem but it is also a society problem. Every child that has been abused by a priest, teacher, doctor or parent is spiritually and emotionally wounded. Unfortunitely without treatment the abuse will affect every aspect of their life in one way or another. What is so totally mind blowing is the fact that a Church who's only reason for existence is to teach about Jesus and his message of right and wrong, has chosen to, instead, protect the business side of the church and left thousands of children to blow in the wind by protecting the crimes of their representatives, the priests who abuse. And by doing so has allowed even more children to be abused over and over. I would highly recommend any adult to read this book and realize that a child does not lie about abuse to get attention and a lot of the time can not bring themselves to talk about their abuse for many years and sometime that means even into late adulthood. And even though the church says it's just about receiving money it is more about justice and protecting the innocents of all children present and future. An excellent well balanced book that you can't put down no matter how disurbing you fine the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Informative
Review: I have had first hand experience with priest sexual misconduct, so I have read much of the literature and have followed the present crisis closely. This is the best thing I have read. The best written and researched. Every Catholic should read this book about the present state of the priesthood. I know what he is saying is true, and I also know from my experience, but it still astounds me.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Comprehensive Reporting on Clergy Abuse Available
Review: Jason Berry investigated the Catholic Clergy Crisis starting with a reporting assignment he received for his job almost fifteen years ago. From that story, Berry went on to become increasingly captivated by the facts of the Catholic Clergy Abuse Scandal in the United States. While the book principally follows the tragedy that befell the Layfayette, Louisiana Diocese in the late 80's and early 90's, Berry's book is so comprehensive that the reader can't help but get a full picture of the depth and breath of this national scandal. Originally published in 1992, Berry's book is a classic. In the midst of the 2002 scandal that began in Boston with John Cardinal Law and has grown worse by day throughout the country, this is one of the best books to read to get a true sense of the complexity of the crisis. It also reminds us that what has happened in 2002 has happened before. All the apologies and posturing by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy become far less convincing or hopeful in light of the fact that they have addressed this issue before and made the same promises to the American Catholics before! Why are we expected to believe them on this go around? To his credit, Jason Berry concludes his book with his personal reflection that his investigations did not cause him to lose his faith. This speaks to Berry's personal integrity and to his book's credibility. This book is not an effort to throw more rocks at the Catholic Church. Rather, it is one intelligent Catholic journalist's reporting of the facts. If the Catholic Church wants to restore confidence in American Catholics, perhaps it should start by recognizing that we, as a group, are generally a well educated group of people who are no longer able to follow "the because I said so" approach to being "faithful" Catholics. Instead of bemoaning us as troublemakers (translated, not ignorant or timid -- apparently 'desirable' 'qualities' in a faithful people???), Rome and the American Catholic hierarchy might do well to begin to speak to American Catholics in an intelligent, honest fashion, if they are truly sincere in their stated desire to restore credibility with the American Church, essentially its' people -- not it's institutional ego or ridiculous organizational structures. A compelling read!
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read...
Review: Jason Berry is to be commended for his courage, reporting and investigative skills in bringing this tale to the public. As a fellow Catholic I know it must have been a painful experience. It is truely a "must read" and I would just like to say "Thank you" to Mr. Berry.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read...
Review: Jason Berry is to be commended for his courage, reporting and investigative skills in bringing this tale to the public. As a fellow Catholic I know it must have been a painful experience. It is truely a "must read" and I would just like to say "Thank you" to Mr. Berry.
Rating:
Summary: DEFENDER OF THE FAITH
Review: Jason Berry proves to be a true defender of the faith, an upstanding Catholic, unafraid to confront the moral decay running rampant in the Church today. Every statement is documented, proving its truth. This book is not an attempt to discredit the Church, but a compassionate understanding of the troubled Church and a serious attempt to make the Church confront its problems. Berry is not an author with a bone to pick. He is a sincere Catholic interested in seeing his Church live up to its full potential, eliminating views which lead "into temptation".
Rating:
Summary: DEFENDER OF THE FAITH
Review: Jason Berry proves to be a true defender of the faith, an upstanding Catholic, unafraid to confront the moral decay running rampant in the Church today. Every statement is documented, proving its truth. This book is not an attempt to discredit the Church, but a compassionate understanding of the troubled Church and a serious attempt to make the Church confront its problems. Berry is not an author with a bone to pick. He is a sincere Catholic interested in seeing his Church live up to its full potential, eliminating views which lead "into temptation".
Rating:
Summary: In Search of info on the House of Affirmation
Review: This book is amazing, tempered, and extremely credible. Jason Berry has taken a very difficult, emotional subject and made it readable, discernable, and a powerful statement about what happens when we fail to question authority. The only thing the book seems to be missing (thought he may not be) is the outrage that so many children have been violated, and so many more remain at risk. Of particular interest to me was his reference to the House of Affirmation in Worcester, Mass., a self-proclaimed "cure" created and defined of the church, by the church, and for the church...an institution that self-destructed from its own corruption. I'm having a very difficult time finding any other information on this institution. If anyone out there can tell me anything, I'm all ears!
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, infuriating, heartbreaking.
Review: This book kept me up so many nights - I would find myself awake at 3 AM, forcing myself to put it down. The first third reads like a novel. A thriller, a mystery, a horror novel. All the more painful because it is true. It became a more difficult read for me after the first third- because the names keep coming - becoming one long horrible blur of awful abuses of faith and spirit. I wish this book could be required reading for Catholic parents- so that they don't miss the signs.
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