Customer Reviews

For Men Only: Strategies for Living Catholic

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Well written, real and funny, this quick read provides a comprehensive strategy for catholic men who need to get back in touch with their faith. The book does not skirt around the reality of Jesus as a man and evidence of His masculinity throughout the bible. By understanding Jesus as a real guy, men can better understand the fact that the course of their lives is guided by His infinite mercy.

This is an authentic, honest, and real look at what it means to be a man and how Catholicism provides values, ideas, and examples to grow, as the Bible says, "in wisdom and grace." I've read many Mitch Finley books and understand why so many Catholics find inspiration and encouragement in his writings. This is one of his best.

This book is billed as "Strategies for living Catholic", but the author seems to have some troubling views regarding Church doctrine.

Rather than write a long review, I'll quote the most troubling area. It's where the author deals with contraception.

Chapter 7, page 101.

"Traditional Catholics insist that, in practice, artificial contraceptives may not be used because the official teaching of the Church says so."

Ok, no worries there. Now listen to his definition of "Moderate Catholics":

"Moderate Catholics take their faith seriously, respect the official teachings of the Church, but do not believe that all official Church teachings are infallible; neither do they believe that such teachings may be allowed to replace personal conscience."

It continues on page 102:

"Thus on the issue of artificial contraception, moderate Catholics study the official teaching carefully, make every attempt to understand its rationale, and prayerfully listen to both experts and ordinary people who praise and criticize this teaching. In the end, moderate Catholics often find that they cannot accept the teaching of the Church that prohibits the use of artificial contraceptives."

...
"A Catholic married man would be well advised to follow the moderate path..."

There's not much comment needed here. If you understand what it means to believe in the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church," then you should avoid this book.