Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church [Paperback]

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson (Author), Donald Cozzens (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008

Drawing on his own experience in responding to abuse, Bishop Geoffrey Robinson in this explosive work methodically offers a critique of the church's use and misuse of power, from the pope proclaiming infallibly down to the preacher claiming a divine authority for every word spoken from the pulpit. Going back to the Bible and, above all, to the teaching of Jesus, he presents an approach to sexual morality that is profound, compassionate, and people-centered. He stresses the priority of the hierarchy of holiness over the hierarchy of power. ¬ He offers nothing less than a vision for a church of the third millennium--a church that wants to see in its members the responsibility appropriate to adults rather than the obedience appropriate to children and wants to help all people to grow to become all they are capable of being.

You will love or hate this book but not be able to remain neutral.

Through the story of sexual abuse and the church's response, I came to the unshakeable belief that within the Catholic Church there absolutely must be profound and enduring change. In particular, there must be change on the two subjects of power and sex. --From the Introduction

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[T]he importance of Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church lies in the fact that a bishop, an ecclesiastical `insider,' has had the courage to challenge the institution of which he was a part and invite serious conversation regarding a broad range of church issues that have too often been declared off-limits by church leadership. If Robinson's book opens the door to more open and responsible theological conversation by members of church leadership regarding the unique demands facing our church today, it will have fulfilled its purpose." -- America

It is a much-needed insider's look at the structures of the Church and offers detailed change for growth and relevance. The bold willingness of a bishop to take on such a theologically careful exposé should be embraced as a long-overdue opportunity for faithful transformation. -- Catholic Books Review

This is a book for all reform-minded members of the church. Its fourteen chapters proceed from a description of a healthy relationship with a healthy God to a marvelous description of the relationship between and among what is contained in the Bible, tradition, and ordinary human experience--all three viewed in the mode of dynamic processes rather than as finished products or projects. -- Conrad T. Gromada, PhD, Professor of Theology, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio

About the Author

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, who has degrees in philosophy, theology, and church law, was Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney from 1984 until his retirement in 2004. In 1994 he was elected by the Australian Bishops to the National Committee for professional Standards, coordinating the response of the Catholic Church in Australia to revelations of sexual abuse, and from 1997 until 2003 he was cochairman of this committee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814618650
• ISBN-13: 978-0814618653
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #615,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding call for true Catholic Church reform, a tour de force, July 1, 2008

By 

David A. Appling "polkovnik" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church (Paperback)

This is a really excellent book, coming directly to grips not only with the Roman Catholic Church's clerical abuse problems, but with history's iron grip on both governance and doctrine and the Church's inability to get beyond that grip -- due to structure, resistance to paradigm shifts, and a failure of will. Clerical sexual abuse is shown as a prime example of the Church's dysfunctional structure, marginalizing of the laity, and centralization of power far from where the rubber meets the road.

An earlier reviewer was put off somewhat by the author's use of rhetorical questions. I do see her point, but I think Bp. Robinson was extremely clever to make his points that way, rather than by flat declarative confrontations with the Roman Curia. Sadly, instead of maturely responding in kind, the hierarchy once again shot itself in the foot with its overblown reaction both to problem statements and to suggested paths out of the morass. (The impact on me of Roger Cardinal Mahony's appalling letter to the author was that I immediately bought and devoured the book.)

Highly recommended. Benedict XVI and his team should be encouraging such thinkers and questioners, and engaging them in reasoned twenty-first century dialogue, rather than harking back to the fifth century (Augustine) and the sixteenth (Council of Trent) and hiding behind "creeping infallibility." I hope Catholics, both laity and clergy, will have the guts to read this book and use it as a step on the ladder of reform. Ecclesia semper reformanda est (the Church must always be reforming. Always.)

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent statement of the problems in the Catholic Church, June 24, 2008

By 

Theology Girl (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church (Paperback)

This book is about much more than sex abuse. It is a well-written review of the many problems that institutional Catholicism is facing in the 21st century.

Bp. Robinson deals with many facets of morality, shows where the Church has gone off the rails, and makes suggestions for the future. As one example, his treatment of the subject of Papal infallibility is excellent -- and devastating.

I expected to read one more expose of sex abuse in the Church, instead I am getting much, much more than that. Bp. Robinson is to be commended. (As an aside, it is no wonder that many other RC Bishops are condemning him, as he shows just how systemic Roman Catholicism's problems are.)

It is obvious that Bp. Robinson loves the Church (the whole church!) and wishes to be part of the solution. Unfortunately, many other Catholic Bishops are content to remain part of the problem.

One complaint: rather than make statements at various points in the book regarding conclusions to be drawn, the author instead is prone to ask rhetorical questions. They can become a bit tiresome after a while, but do nothing to water down his message.

I highly recommend this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Balance of Power, June 29, 2008

By 

R. P. Long (Storrs, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church (Paperback)

Bishop Robinson shows how the power in the Catholic Church has been unduly concentrated over the centuries due to the absence of checks and balances. He presents a modern view of the roles that Scripture, the world, and discernment play in developing a knowledge and understanding of God. He suggests changes to the governing structure of the Catholic Hierarchy that do not violate Scripture and would allow more rapid response to needs in various parts of the world. This book should be read and discussed by all adult Catholics.