Customer Reviews

Purple Culture

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The three Bishops Robert Courteer, Vincent Barieno and Wilbur Sandes stand trial in Federal Court for concealing the pedophile activities of the priests by constantly relocating them before the trouble can surface. The eyes of the world are upon this trial especially victims and their families who want justice in what looks like a sure shot for the prosecution.

The lead attorneys from both sides know how the evidence stacks up and who is looking over each of their shoulders. Prosecutor William Goulding has all the proof on his side so will stick to the facts though he plans to make some of the truth melodramatic and emotional. On the other side defense attorney James Kobs knows he must punch holes in the facts that overwhelming goes against his clients as he must find a way to persuade the jury to acquit though everything affirms they are guilty.

Although a profound legal thriller that extrapolates from the headlines, THE PURPLE CULTURE is much more. Stephen Boehrer enables his readers to look deep at the motives that drove the three Bishops to conceal the sexual predatory nature of some of their priests towards their flock. The author also provides a glimpse of how the victims have fared as well as their families. However, it is the intense scrutiny that lays bare the souls of the three Bishops that make this a brilliant tale that answers why the cover-up.

Harriet Klausner

Finally! Someone is brave enough to tell the truth that Roman Catholic Bishops and Priests have been trying to hid from you for centuries.

It is told in the form of a Novel (fiction) but it is all true and I think I could put names to some of the "fictional" characters in the book.

Well written and a great read!

Shocking to those who are only Sunday Church goes.

A confirmation of what we all suspected and whispered about for we who spend most of our lives involved with the Church.

Every Catholic should read this book!

Maybe the truth will finally set us all free?

The Purple Culture was very thought-provoking! Steve Borhrer suggests that many members of the Roman Catholic clergy live and operate within a purpe culture and are somewhat out of touch with reality. His characters are fictional but the situations are very real! His premises are so believable!

Marilyn Marzolf

The church has been brought to trial for what they been suspected of for ages. "The Purple Culture" is a novel where three bishops are brought to trail for conspiracy to protect sexually abusive priests. William Goulding, the prosecution, faces off against defense attorney James Kobs in this landmark case on just how untouchable the Roman Catholic Church really is in America. Touching on the avenues of religion, philosophy, and law, "The Purple Culture" makes for a highly entertaining and very recommended read.

Just finished reading it. I honestly don't understand all the gushing in the other reviews I read here. I bought the book because Amazon suggested I buy it because I had ordered Rembert Weakland's book, "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church." If you want to know the real mindset of the Catholic Bishops, read it!

Anyway, back to "Purple Culture." It was written as a novel, but much of it reads like a case study. Mr. Boeher, I think, has an excellent theory about why there was so much cover up of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and he probably should have written a case study and not a novel.

To me, a good novel has a few diverse characters who we get to know very well and develop feelings for or against. This novel introduces too many different characters and doesn't develop any of them significantly. I found it difficult to get through it, even though it has large print and lots of space between the lines! I felt no anger at the bishops and very little empathy for the victims.

I'd suggest to Mr. Boeher that he go back and rewrite four different novels using the characters he introduced in this book and develop them much more fully.

There were a few interesting theories and ideas in the book, but as a novel, it just wasn't a good read.

I just received the following note from a priest (Rev. Edward Kearns) who'd read "The Purple Culture": "An interesting book, it is theologically and essentially on the mark as seen and reviewed by this cleric of the Roman Tradition It is well constructed and understandable with life-like characters. The cult of the church aspect is well written and portrayed. The tome is entertaining, thought provoking, a quick and enjoyable read!"

The plight of the Church in dealing with the sexual abuse scandal among priests continies. On Sunday, June 27, 2010 New York Times features an article, "Abuse Cases Loosen Church's Culture of Silence in Italy".
The media and the public seem to be coming to the same conclusion described by author, Stephen Boehrer, in his novel, "The Purple Culture". A pervasive, cult-like behavior has driven the bishops to protect the Church at all costs, a behavior so antithecal to the teachings of Jesus Christ. "The Purple Culture", endorsed by Thomas Doyle, Richard Sipe, Peter Isely, and Rita McDonald, goes a long way in educating us as to how this "Purple Culture" and "Culture of Silence" has pervaded the Church. This is a must read for anyone interested in social-psychological behaviour. Doesn't matter what your religion.

This is a very thought provoking book and I'm sure if read by book club members, it will be discussed and debated.
I am a Catholic and have had many years of Catholic education. I do think that the "Purple Culture" needs a reality check.
The author is a "former" Catholic priest. When I was in school, we were taught that once a priest, always a priest. Boehrer wrote like a priest. The book was also a legal/psychological thriller. I wonder if he had any legal training or training in psychology? I won't give away the ending, but I very much disagree with the way this book ended.
Does anyone else disagree with the ending?