Customer Reviews

Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church

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One young girl wrote in a book report "This book tells me more about hippopotamuses than I wanted to know." Unless you have a special interest in the Vatican inside story, this book may also tell you too much. But since the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church is one of the three most efficient corporate structures in the world, and since its work touches the lives of a billion Roman Catholics (and much of the rest of the world as well), and since its failings have been at the center of controversy in the Catholic world, the book is important. It is a well written and exhaustive summary of how the central Catholic government is structured and makes its decisions. The author, who has written on church governance at all levels, is a recognized expert in the field. Despite the controversial nature of the topic Reese treats the Curia fairly and objectively. Those who complain about the Curia should read this book, for while many of their complaints may be justified, they might be surprised at the amount and complexity of the work the Vatican does, the care and dedication with which they try to do it, and the problems and difficulties they labor under. The section on the internal culture of the Curia is particularly enlightening, and the author's concrete and professional suggestions for reform are valuable.

Thomas Reese, Jesuit professor and journalist, has carved a very narrow niche for himself as an author, explaining the organizational mechanics of the Catholic church. Most people would find his books to have far too much detail, but there are a few, like me, who are curious about what really happens behind the closed doors of the Catholic administrative apparatus. His 1989 book, "Archbishop," described how dioceses are run, and "Inside the Vatican" describes how the Vatican functions. What decisions do cardinals actually make? What is it like to be a Vatican ambassador to a foreign country? What is it like to have a career as a Vatican bureaucrat? (One tidbit: No air conditioning!)

If these are things you've wondered about, this is the book for you. Reese approaches these things as though he were an anthropologist or a management consultant, with a keen eye for the nuances of interpersonal relationships within the Vatican bureaucracy. My only complaints are that the amount of detail can be overwhelming, and Reese sometimes gets bogged down in a wooden style of writing. It's best to start reading this book in the middle, because the beginning is rather dry. On the other hand, the anecdotes are a strong plus. To give one example, the story of John Paul II reprimanding the Archbishop of Denver to his face creates a mental image that is hard to forget.

The last chapter is the most provocative, where Reese suggests reforms that are both logical and unrealistic: He argues that Vatican administrators should not be allowed to become cardinals, which in papal elections would cause a monumental power shift toward those who are in closer touch with the laity. Reese suggests priests play a major role in selecting bishops, as was the case before the 1800s, in contrast to the current practice in which the pope appoints ultraconservative bishops who can't relate to anyone in their diocese.

According to Reese, the underlying problem is that the Vatican is more interested in doctrinal purity than keeping people in the church. Meanwhile the laity are voting with their feet, gravitating to pastors who ignore papal instructions, or leaving the church altogether.

Reese has written a book that can be daunting to someone who may be looking for quick answers. The Vatican is such an arcane institution that it is impossible to give a short, comprehensive answer on the operation of the Curia. As a researcher, I found Reese's work immensely informative; it also provides some balance to the more sensational allegations of Luigi Marinelli, although I doubt that his work is to be discounted either. It shows an institution that is prone to the same errors of judgement and behaviour in its denizens as any other, but with a higher degree of moral rectitude expected from it. It is a fascinating excursion into one of the world's oldest surviving bureaucracies.

WHITE LIGHT DARK NIGHT: THE REVOLUTIONARY LIFE OF JOHN PAUL I

Rarely have I seen a book written about the Vatican which is as unbiased as this one. I thoroughly recommend it. Although one has to go through quite a bit of detail and draw ones own conclusions, it is well worth the read.

This is an explanation of how the various aspects of the Vatican operate.
This is not a "tell all" with gossip or scandal. Being more of a study of an ancient worldwide organization than about backroom politics, some people may find some descriptions of "who does what" a little dry.

I, however, found the book most interesting.

In a word, disappointing. Reese sets out to document the machinations of the Catholic hierarchy, satisfactorily covering the structure and official mission of its various parts. The energy he devoted to questioning Vatican officials is apparent, yet is also the book's shortfall. As an insider, Reese writes what could easily pass for an authorized biography; the Pope could read this with nary a blush (was that the intent?). Interspersed with the occasional slap on the wrist for good measure, the book seems to have only one source for information on how (in)efficiently the Vatican functions: the Vatican itself. Missing is any analytical scrutiny, external sourcing, or simply a ounce of skepticism of anything emanating from Vatican lips. Some utterances are downright banal: "...everyone agrees that the Vatican is better run and more efficient than the Italian bureaucracy." It would be hard to contrive a more meaningless analysis. Reese is an insider's insider; those looking for a documentary or expose can look elsewhere. But if you want the sanitized version, I recommend calling the Vatican and avoiding the middleman.

A must buy in order to understand the Roman Curia!

Beware Fr. Reese SJ's unconventional opinions and you will not be misguided by unorthodox Catholic thought. He is a very political character himself and colors his statements. His recent attack on limits placed by Pope Benedict against practicing gays entering the priesthood betray an extreme bias. He contends pedophilia the problem although the vast majority of abuse cases were against adolescent boys, not young children -- just as example of his penchant for being loose with facts.

This is a great book which gives a deatailed account of the inside of place which most people do not even what goes on inside of it.

Once you know what goes on Inside the Vatican, as a Catholic, you may want to get out.

Methodist anyone?