Customer Reviews

Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church

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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.)

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.

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.

Pope John XXIII said "Open The Windows." Bishop Geoffrey Robinson is the clearest and most reinvigorating breath of fresh air through the windows of the Catholic Church since Vatican II. He properly balances the bible, the Church, and our present life circumtances allowing one GROWTH within the Church. It relieves false guilt giving some perpective on attitudes of purity and obedience, without relieving one of our responsibility. This book gives the most integrity of understanding I have had in sixty years; it is a gift to those of his own or any faith group.

The scandals of pedophile Priests have done untold damage to the Catholic Church, and "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus" seeks to address the issue directly. Criticizing the church's abuse of power and looking to the Bible to offer a new approach to the church's stance on sexual morality, Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church strives to focus on the people and to be forgiving of their flaws. Calling for a gradual reformation of the Catholic church, "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus" is highly recommended for community library collections concerning Catholicism.

This is one of the most important pastoral books written in the past few years. It fairly and quietly sets out for reflection areas in which the pastoral care of those in the institutional Catholic chuch have failed properly to serve and nurture the Catholic community. It is positive - recommending ways in which these failures can be remedied. It blames where blame is both necessary and urgently in need of recognition, so that wrongs can be righted. No one who was disturbed by the recent reporting of sexual abuse by the Irish institutional Catholic church can afford not to read this book. People like it's author are precisely those who should be given authority - especially in Rome - to tackle the ills it exposes.

An excellent and very readable book that has provided me with much needed insight as a very troubled Episcopalian at this time of our schism over the ordination of an openly gay bishop in 2003.

This is a profoundly spiritual and honest publication. Not always easy to read but always rewarding, sometimes uniquely so. i defy anyone to read this book without being surprised by its frankness and its sincerity

CONFRONTING THE PROBLEM OF CHURCH ABUSE, THE AUTHOR HONESTLY SEES THE CHURCH IN ITS OFFICIALS AS GUILTY OF PREFERRING CHURCH DEFENSE OVER THE HURT TO VICTIMS. MUCH BEYOND THAT, THE AUTHOR STRONGLY RECOMMENDS CHURCH SUSIDIARITY AND COLLEGIALITY AT ALL LEVELS, IF GENUINELY ACCEPTED, AS A HUGE BEGINNING OF NEEDED REFORM.

Bishop Robinson's book is full of history and ideas to mordanize the Catholic Church. It will help explain why the church got to where it is today and then how we can all (laity, clerical, religious) change the church.
This book will change you and the way you look at religion and the concept of Church.