From Scandal to Hope

Rating:
Summary: Sloppy and insulting
Review: B. Groeschel's attempt to analyze and propose solutions to the clergy sexual abuse disaster falls far short in both content and presentation. It's poorly written and ill-informed, insulting both the reader's intelligence and the gravity of the situation with pat, predictable "answers." As in the case of most of Groeschel's books, there is a smattering of humor, but here it is entirely out of place. Of course, he blames the usual suspects and even throws in a few more (such as the trend of people dressing "down" for Mass. Come on)! What Groeschel ultimately wants, it seems, (though his confused style makes it hard to discern) is a "ghetto" Church (and at one point he actually defends this desire). But really, he's not worth arguing with in this book, given its slapdash and erratic meanderings. It's simply NOT worth reading. Try George Weigel's "The Courage to be Catholic" or, better, Donald Cozzens' "Sacred Silence."

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For ALL American Catholics-An Awakening!
Review: By far one of Fr. Groeschel's works. This brief text finally gives us a well documented explanation of many epedemics inside our Church, especially the child abuse scandal. Disputing the media frenzy of anti-Catholic bias, Groeschel goes a step further and offers suggestions for laypeople, priests, abusers and bishops concerning the disaster. Groeschel lays out a groundwork of how we American Catholics have become lazy, secularized and victims of a growing "God-less" society. More importantly, he painfully points out examples of failures and offers ideas and encouragement of how we can and must REFORM. This prolific writer, theologian and psychologist has the courage to say that we must return to the anchor of orthodoxy to steer our mother Church (the body of Christ) back on course.

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Reading
Review: Father Groeschel has written a small book that is not difficult to read; but for its brevity and simplicity, it is remarkably perceptive.

Father Groeschel cuts straight to the heart of the matter: the Church (especially in the United States) needs reform - or, perhaps better, renewal. The Church needs to get back to the basics and to be true to the mission given to Her by Jesus Christ. For too long, members of the Church have allowed themselves to be influenced by the spirit of the world. As a very sad result, the Church is now afflicted by an all-too-worldly scandal.

One may be surprised that the author doesn't spend more time talking about the responsibility of the bishops. I maintain that most of the book deals indirectly with the bishops. If seminary formation has been lax or irresponsible since Vatican II, the bishops are the ones who have allowed it to happen.

Yet Father Groeschel manages to avoid condemning anyone. He acknowledges that even he had been caught up in the worldly spirit that has been so prevalent in the Church. His answer is to point to the examples of great saints whose personal holiness helped to bring about great renewals when the Church faced troubled times in the past.

This is not a complete or comprehensive account of the scandals, their causes, or the solutions. It is, however, a good place to begin looking for answers about how the scandals could have happened or how they can be overcome.

Rating:
Summary: The Right Remedy for Scandal
Review: Fr. Benedict Groeschel pulls no punches in his prescription for the scandals besetting the Church: more fidelity and devotion. As a long-time observer and participant in the life of the Church, the author gives us the benefit of his insights into the current scandals. These insights include: 1.) How failed psychological theories ruined the commitment to celibacy of many clerics and religious; 2.) How the confusion sown by dissenting theologians laid the groundwork for scandal; and 3.) How a renewed sense of reverence and devotion can turns things around at the grassroots level. Groeschel is a witty and wise observer. His is a voice well worth listening to.

Rating:
Summary: ? Sloppy and insulting, NOT AT ALL!
Review: Fr. Groeschel, is a trained psychologist as well as being a Catholic priest. Anyone, who has seen Fr. Groeschel, on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network). www.ewtn.com Would know that he is a very good man as well as a good priest. In no way does he say that what has been done to this people is or was ok! He does take a hard look at how we got to where we are now. People want reform! What reform is they do not know. What they really want is an updating of the Catholic Church, woman who can become priest. Birth-control, sex with out consequences, marriage for priest. Have you asked yourself why you may want these things? I think not, because if you read about what the Church teaching on these things are they would make sense to why things are done the way they are! It is because of this updating that we are in the mess we are in! Read the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH it might help you understand what the church believes and teaches. I feel sorry for the victims, I am angry with the priests who have done this to our church. But I also love my church and many of the men and woman who have answered Gods call. Hope and Love and prayer these are the thing that will see us through this time, it will also be what heals those that are hurting.
John

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps a correct diagnosis, but incomplete medicine
Review: While erudite and witty, this account of the current crisis in the Catholic Church, betrays objectivity by attempting to pin all ills related to this crisis on laxed seminary formation and an increasingly permissive Western society.

That may be so. But in the opinion of this reader (and of most Americans) the larger part of this crisis lies in the dereliction of duty and outright cover up practiced by US Bishops and the Roman Curia.

Indeed, key questions such as Why doesn't the Catholic Church come clean about this matter by opening its files to civil authorities?, Why haven't more bishops, who have been found guilty of such cover ups not followed Bernard Law in resigning? and Is there a need for laity and other groups within the Church, not only to express their displeasure, but to demand a place at the decision-making table? are almost ignored.

Sadly, the one prescription that is repeated ad infinitum in the book, namely more orthodoxy, seems to reflect Groeschel's own desired medicine than what is truly needed in the mind of this reader, namely, effective accountability and transparency on the part of the church hierarchy.

As one follows this crisis, this opinion is echoed by those who at least have had as close as a perspective on this debacle as Fr. Groechel, specifically, Bob Bennett, of the Lay Advisory Board that compiled the latest statistics on this scanda...