Cardinal Sins [Large Print] [Textbook Binding]

Andrew Greeley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1982

The Cardinal Sins ignited a worldwide sensation when it first appeared nearly thirty years ago. Selling more than three million copies, it launched Andrew M. Greeley’s career as one of America’s most popular storytellers. Back in print at last, this powerful saga of ambition, temptation, and love both spiritual and carnal is as timely and provocative as ever.

Lifelong friends and occasional rivals, Kevin Brennan and Patrick Donahue enter seminary together, but their lives soon diverge dramatically. Intellectual and independent, Kevin achieves success as a scholar but often finds himself at odds with his superiors in the Church. And his unwavering principles threaten to cut him off from those closest to him—including the former sweetheart he has never forgotten.

By contrast, the ambitious Patrick rises steadily through the Church hierarchy, only to fall prey to the temptations of lust and power. As hidden scandals and Patrick’s inner demons threaten to destroy the lives of everyone around him, it’s up to his oldest friend to save him from himself—and foil a conspiracy that could change the very future of the Papacy!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sprightly . . . scandalous. Father Greeley’s narrative seethes with temptations yielded to at the drop of a clerical collar, and his ecclesiastical sizzler makes a splendid yarn.”—Cosmopolitan

“Startlingly honest. Thirty years ago, a priest would have been excommunicated for writing such a book. Three hundred years ago, he would have been burned at the stake.”—Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

One of the most influential Catholic thinkers and writers of our time, priest, sociologist, author and journalist Father Andrew M. Greeley has built an international assemblage of devout fans over a career that spans five decades. He is the author of over 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of non-fiction and his writing has been translated into 12 languages. A Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona and a Research Associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, Father Greeley is a respected scholar whose current research focuses on the Sociology of Religion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Textbook Binding
• Publisher: G K Hall & Co (January 1982)
• ISBN-10: 081613328X
• ISBN-13: 978-0816133284
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,010,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Chicago, Father Andrew M. Greeley, is a priest, distinguished sociologist and bestselling author. He is professor of social sciences at the University of Chicago and the University of Arizona, as well as Research Associate at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. His current sociological research focuses on current issues facing the Catholic Church-including celibacy of priests, ordination of women, religious imagination, and sexual behavior of Catholics.Father Greeley received the S.T.L. in 1954 from St. Mary of Lake Seminary. His graduate work was done at the University of Chicago, where he received the M.A. Degree in 1961 and the Ph.D. in 1962.Father Greeley has written scores of books and hundreds of popular and scholarly articles on a variety of issues in sociology, education and religion. His column on political, church and social issues is carried by the Chicago Sun Times and many other newspapers. He stimulates discussion of neglected issues and often anticipates sociological trends. He is the author of more than thirty bestselling novels and an autobiography, Furthermore!: Confessions of a Parish Priest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful!, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cardinal Sins (Textbook Binding)

I read the author's book, "...and young men shall see visions," in high school, and was mildly inspired. I thought he was another of those closet gay priests that had taught me and I was afraid enough of my own sexuality that I ignored him for the next 35 years, although I saw his name from time to time and noticed he had gotten into the supermarket and airport booksellers venue. Then I happened to see one of his books in the library and on impulse pulled it off the shelf. I was amazed. Here he is speaking to the issues that have penetrated my life for the last 50 years. Someone else noticed all this and has been going through it all too! Now this is the third novel of Greeley's I have read. (I am going backward to see howe he got started). Is it great literature? I am not sure. I am not a literary critic. Nevertheless, this book speaks to me and my life. I have met its characters and have been some of them. I know what makes them cry and laugh and burn with desire and shame, however politically uncorrect. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you will too. Maybe even if you are not an Irish-American Catholic.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've read this book 3 or 4 times over the years and I also, September 2, 2002

By 

patricia (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cardinal Sins (Audio Cassette)

have an audio version. It is a great story about love, Gods love for us and our struggle to return it and to love one another. Each time I read it or listen to it I discover something more about the theme, the characters and myself.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO UMMM...., March 21, 2008

By 

Grace Sneed (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cardinal Sins (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished this book and found it to be one that could be non-fiction. It was, as another reviewer expressed, "delightful". I'm, however, surprised that all the critics of the book finished it if they found it "torture" or "awful". May it's because it's human and could possibility be happening right now. I couldn't put it down because it was truly entertaining and about unconditional friendships that lasted through some terrible conditions and ended with some terrible consequences. I'm neither Catholic, Irish-American or gay but this book has me interested in reading others by Father Greeley, he's indeed a brave man.