Customer Reviews

The Jesuits

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First of all Malachi Martin did NOT walk out on his order to marry a foreign correspondent during the Vatican Council, as claimed by a previous reviwer. In 1965, Martin received a "dispensation from all privileges and obligations deriving from his vows as a Jesuit and from priestly ordination." (Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, 25 June 1997, Prot. N. 04300/65).

Why would a Jesuit priest request such dispensation? It is likely because the heterodox Jesuit heirarchy would never have allowed him to publish this book. He would have had to break his vow of obedience to his superiors within the order to both research and write this book. Had he not requested such dispensation, Fr. Martin would have joined a host of orthodox Jesuit priests, such as Fr. Cornelius Buckley, S.J. and Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. who were either silenced or the attempt made to silence them by their heterodox brethren.

I had never heard of Malachi Martin before I picked up this book. But I have attended two Jesuit universities and I've seen the war between orthodox and heterodox Jesuits up close. It is real and it does exist. Heterodox Jesuits continue to support the dogma of Liberation Theology which is, in reality, a blend of Catholicism and Marxism that is neither authentically Catholic nor authentically Christian. Heterodox Jesuits teaching in universities are having symposiums on such philosophers as Michel Foucault which, when you consider that Foucault advocated sex with children, seems more than a little ironic. It goes on and on. My own experiences with the Jesuits lend a boatload of credence to what Martin writes. The Jesuits haven't merely betrayed the heirarchy of the Roman Catholic Church - they've betrayed millions of faithful Catholics all over the world - especially those faithful in Central and South America who were murdered and starved and oppressed by the very same Jesuits who said they were there to "help".

This book reads like a spy thriller. I literally couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It seems clear to me that Martin had sources that were well placed at very high levels, both at the Vatican and within the Jesuits. It is also evident to me that Martin is more right than wrong. If you want to know what's wrong with the Roman Catholic Church, this book goes a long way towards explaining it.

Here is Malachi Martin at his most passionate and informed, stating the obvious about his former religious order and its descent into sheer insanity. That it: (1) was a foundation for modernist revolt early in century 20; (2) provided a good hiding place in the middle years for underground wackiness ala Teilhard de Chardin; (3) concocted, post Vatican 2, a startling and heady vision of "salvation as seen through the scope of a rifle" (liberation theology) and pushed it determinedly in Central America.

Yes, this book only states the obvious. The facts were published elsewhere, many other places first, indeed -- Time magazine, the Jesuits' magazine America, the "liberation theology" tomes of Fr. Gustavo Guiterrez and Ernesto Cardenal. Only with a different spin, of course -- it was all considered quite "daring, challenging, courageous." Especially here, among self-styled Catholic "progressives" in the good old USA. You don't have to do any "deep research" -- just go into your public library's microfilm department and scan old Life and Look magazines . . . .

So why the furor? Well, here in the USA, one judges the worth of a book or article by the extent to which one "agrees" with it. In other words, ideology precedes assent, even information. Now, you can even get advanced degrees for it.

Oh well, maybe Malachi Martin once was a lusty fellow, maybe he was a jerk, maybe there are even some minor innacuracies of date, place, etc. Fine: and for the purpose of argument, agreed. So what? The late Father John Hardon, S.J., who also knew both his order and the Vatican well, staunchly defended this book and its publication.

All said, this is indispensible history between 2 covers, that will not be found between 2 covers anywhere else. It is elegantly written, and a fully engaged report from the eye of a hurricane its author knew only too well.

There were some very good things and some very bad things about this book. First, the good. Martin goes through the whole history as well as downfall of the Jesuits. The first few chapters are especially good because he builds up how great the Jesuits use to be. They were once "Pope's men," men who were 100% faithful to the Pope (this was a special vow that a Jesuit took) and would go anywhere and do anything that the Pope asked. They were warriors for the Church. The greatness that the order once held is crucial to appreciating how devastating their downfall is. There is much history and detail of the 20th century Jesuits, as this is when the rebellion subtly began and then became full-fledged. It is a heart-wrenching story, reading about how the once faithful order has been subsumed with Marxist liberation theology.

Now onto the bad parts. The book is very, very long and much of it seems unnecessary. There was a considerable amount of detail and information that should have been dropped because it took away from some of the more important details. The other very disturbing fact is that for such a huge HISTORICAL work, there are almost no footnotes citing references for many claims. Even references for official Jesuit documents or Vatican documents could have been provided quite easily, but most of the time were not. I see this as a very serious drawback for such a historical tome written only in the last 25 years.

As a practicing catholic and graduate of a jesuit high school and college, this book held special significance. The historical account of the society and the Ignatian principles upon which it was founded and governed is detailed with amazing insight and clarity. The politics and intrigue that have confronted Pope JPII are outlined magnificently. This book is an intellectual delight and contains suspense and gepolitical analysis that is a true education. the Jesuits are a special order and this book will clearly outline why. Regrettably, Martin shows in a thorough and convincing manner how they have arrogantly abandoned Ignatius and the Pope. Highly recommended.

My attempt at capturing the basic thesis of this book is: In modern times, various worldly influences (e.g. Marxism, New Age) have caused the Jesuit Order to stray from its founder's vision to the point that much of it would be unrecognizable to him today.

The author is quite detailed in identifying facts, names, dates, and citations. Meant to appeal to a wide audience, the story is gripping and entertaining to the reader. Though I've heard general criticisms against reading Malachi Martin, I've never seen any point-by-point refutation of the claims he has made in this book.

The book focuses on the Jesuit Order in the Cold War era. Much of what I got out of this book was Martin's critical view of Liberation Theology. At the time I read it, I was also reading a pro-Liberation Theology book, which allowed me to hear both sides of the story. Liberation Theology is Marxist theology, supporting violent popular revolution. Poor people are good, rich people are bad, etc, etc.

Has the Jesuit Order strayed from the Catholic Faith and St Ignatius of Loyola's vision?

In my contacts with Jesuits, I've seen a number who are faithful to the gospel; while I've found plenty whose heterodox views would bolster the negative view of the Society that Malachi Martin maintains in his book.

Finally, I have to say that I purchased the book as an introduction to the Society of Jesus. It's absolutely the wrong book for that. But, it is a well told story, if you are interested in a critical view of some trends in modern Jesuit spirituality. It's written in the context of the Cold War--just before the fall of the Berlin Wall--so it may feel a bit dated.

In this book modernism is defined as the harnessing of religious beliefs and doctrines to the prevailing cultural norms or climes of any given age or period. It means that one may adjust their beliefs as one sees fit and act according to their personal perceptions. This position is in direct contradiction to the historical premises of Roman Catholicism which taught that the pope is the vicar of Christ, that he has teaching authority within the Church, that there is absolute truth which the Church assists mankind in uncovering and understanding, that the doctrines and practices of the Church are promulgated through the magisterium (bishops and priests) to the laity who profess and believe, and that the most important single event in human history was the redemption of mankind through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ to expiate the sin of Adam.

The book's central thesis is that the Jesuits, known for centuries as the pope's men, are in open rebellion against the pope and the Church. It is of interest that historically the Jesuits took a special fourth vow of obedience to the pope, and were known as the "Pope's men." The book draws comparisons between the events of the 15th-16th century and today, e.g., the discovery of the new world, scientific verification of a heliocentric versus a geocentric world, the Renaissance, (where man is the measure of all things), and the social and scientific changes active in the modern world, and the democratization of most institutions.

When the Jesuits were originally established by St. Ignatius Loyola in 1540 it was their charter to teach and preach the gospel showing that there was no conflict between faith and reason. This is the basis of Thomistic theology and that theology is the under girding of Roman Catholic thought as well. The Jesuits fulfilled their mission well until the late 20th century when modernism overwhelmed their thought, teachings and actions.

Their involvement with revolution theology in South America, the writings of Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. and George Tyrell, S.J., demonstrates the open rebellion of the order against the Church's magisterium.

Malachi Martin maintains that modernism has permeated all Jesuitical thinking and action. Today the Jesuits teach that church doctrines and teachings on papal infallibility, original sin, homosexuality, the sacraments, the meaning of redemption and salvation and other traditional teachings as taught by the Church for two millennia, are no longer valid or germane and that these issues should be rethought in light of modern life and needs. All is relative!

Heretofore, the Jesuits were the staunchest defenders of fundamental Catholic teachings and the pope. They redefine "Church" stating that it is not the hierarchy or structure, but it is the local community and "whatever" it believes. There is a complete democratization of the acceptance of what one will believe and therefore an aversion to being taught by someone else, particularly a bishop or priest, and specifically the pope. Since Vatican II, and particularly after the fourth session, the nebulous wordings in some of the documents seem to release the faithful and non-faithful from any adherence to the Church's direct teachings in favor of belief according to one's conscience, and that one religion is as good as another. Martin maintained that Vatican II reaffirmed the historical teachings of the Church on the papacy, fallibility and the other issues, but the contemporary thinking of the faithful perceives otherwise.

Thus the turmoil within the Church today and of which this book gives an excellent accounting. Highly recommended.

_The Jesuits_ by Roman Catholic priest and former Jesuit Father Malachi Martin is an important book which describes the debacle that has become of the Society of Jesus within the Roman Catholic Church. Started by Inigo (Saint Ignatius) of Loyola and once suppressed before in its history, the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) long represented a unique force within the Roman Catholic Church maintaining a code of strict obedience to the Roman Pontiff. This book begins by showing how the original intent of Ignatian Jesuitism has been subverted, wherein spiritual aspirations are replaced by modern materialist needs. Thus, many in the Society of Jesus have embraced modernism, particularly in the form of Liberation Theology, and come to fight on the side of Marxism against alleged capitalist oppression (particularly in Latin America where a "preferential option for the poor" is used to justify Marxist revolution). Father Malachi Martin traces the history of Jesuitism from Saint Ignatius and then shows how in the modern era, an era characterized by unbelief and materialism, the philosophy of modernism came to dominate within certain circles of the Roman Catholic Church. Although suppressed by Roman popes, modernism continued to live an underground existence until its eventual rupture during the Second Vatican Council. Certain documents presented at this council have proven highly ambiguous providing the necessary edge needed by modernists to achieve prominence within the Catholic church and particularly within the Society of Jesus. Father Malachi Martin shows how three different individuals shaped the Jesuit experience and transformed traditional Jesuitism into its modernist version. These individuals are George Tyrrell (who denied many of the central tenets of the Catholic faith), Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (who came to believe in a new "evolutionary" faith), and the individuals behind Liberation Theology (an attempt to smuggle Marxist class struggle into the Christian religion). The book next traces out the development of these ideas through various General Councils of the Jesuit Order, particularly those headed by Father General Pedro Arrupe. Father Martin alleges a growing conflict between the Jesuit Order and the Roman papacy, beginning with Pope Paul VI and culminating in the current papacy of John Paul II. However, despite this conflict, and despite obvious defiance by various individuals within the Jesuit Order, the order has not been suppressed by the popes. Traditionalists such as the author (now deceased) and others have been forced to abandon the Jesuit Order (making use of the escape clause upon taking the oath to belong to the Jesuits) and have been fervent opponents of the new direction taken by the Jesuits. This book offers a disturbing account of the church in decline, while modernists within the Jesuit Order attempt to subvert the teachings of the Roman Pontiffs. Traditionally Jesuits have made great contributions, particularly in the sciences but also in worldly affairs, however as this book shows the original Ignatian spiritual intent of the order has been abandoned since the Second Vatican Council

All of my life I've heard things about Malachai Martin. To hear my elders tell it he was either a mad man or a prophet. One day I decided to ignore all that and read the man's book and let him "speak" to me himself. First, I have to say that Martin was a talented and eloquent writer. He also must have possessed a sense of humour and was an enormously clever man. In the Jesuits he explains how the remarkable order went from being a dream in Ignatius's brilliant head to the mess it is today.

It's a sobering portrait and whether you believe that the Jesuits should be supressed again or that there really is hope for reform this book will chill you. For those who complain that JPII didn't do enough to discipline, The Jesuits shows that he was up against some very hard nuts. I don't know if I'll read any more of Martin's books and I have not made up my mind about Malachai Martin, the man or the priest but this is a very good book. Put aside what you think you know and give this book a chance.

This book is excellent, there's no other way of putting it. I am a Catholic, and it is very sad for me to witness people leaving the Church day by day, because of the mistakes of Vatican II. (Guatemala, my home country, used to be 99% Catholic, and now that's down to 60%. Priests do not preach anymore, they stay inside their churches and do nothing, while people look for salvation elsewhere.)

This book will tell you what those mistakes were, and the struggle of various popes against the cancer of modernism in the Catholic Church.

When I was younger, I wanted to become a Jesuit, but some friends cautioned me of the changes that have taken place in the Society. So I did some research here in my country (Guatemala), and everything this book says is true. Jesuit fathers left their 400 years old Ignatian tradition of Papal obedience, stopped fighting for the growth of Catholic Faith, and started fighting for communism, temporal justice, and other worldly causes.

Their numbers have dwindled from 32,000 members in the 70s, to just above 16,000 in the present, and still they do not realise that the Society of Jesus that San Ignacio de Loyola created was a gift from God, and the new society of Jesus they have formed is an aberration that goes against everything Catholic.

Read this book if you are a God loving Catholic, and then help our Holy Church regain its identity. It is up to us to show these "renewed" priests that we want the "old" Roman Catholic Church back.

An engrossing account of the history of the Society of Jesus, with two Basques, for a time, the bookends to the story: Inigo (not Ignatius, nor Ignacio, for that matter), who expired in 1556, and Father General Pedro Arrupe, who was removed by Pope John Paul II in October, 1981. Martin is masterful in delineating the conflicts which have beset the order and the papacy (though Martin would no doubt say "The Church") over the centuries, but his book is really concerned with the succumbing of the Society to Modernism - particularly in the guise of Liberation Theology, and the desperate efforts of the last two popes to return the Society to its initial and rightful place as "the Pope's men." Highly recommendable as a basic account by an author of great understanding and erudition, of Jesuitism, "Modernism" as the term is understood in Catholic circles, and Liberation Theology.