Customer Reviews

Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church

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Cozzens' book is particularly important because it uncovers the extent to which clerical culture in the Catholic Church is engaged in systematic denial of its weaknesses, and almost unique because Cozzens himself is a cleric and a former rector of a seminary, so he knows whereof he speaks. And, I imagine, is paying a certain price for his willingness to bring a few skeletons out of the closet. His approach is pragmatic, not ideological, and he can be accused neither of being a disaffected liberal nor a disgruntled ex-priest. Pay attention to what he says!

Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church

Although "Sacred Silence" was written in 2002 its topic about ministry in the Catholic Church is still a pivotal concern. Over the centuries some ministers (popes, bishops, priests, religious and laypersons) have practiced silence, lack of openness and most importantly, denial about aspects of their ministry to maintain the image of the Catholic Church free of scandal, criticism, strife, and other negative aspects.

In this book, Father Donald Cozzens analyzes aspects of ministry in the 21st century Catholic Church in the United States. Formation of priests, selection of bishops, exclusion of women, as well as homosexual and heterosexual ministers, sexual abuse of minors by priests, shortage of priests and weak leadership in the church are some issues the author indicates needing open dialog.

With sociological data and opinions from a wide spectrum of current authors - both lay and clerical - Cozzens presents problematic issues. The American Catholic family presently rears 1.85 children. This is not an encouraging source of future priests, or for the men and women religious the Catholic Church will need for ministry in its growing parish communities. Over 50% of priests today minister to two or more parishes. This is a worldwide situation. Priests are getting older and fewer. Women wishing to partake in decision-making processes and ministries are routinely irritated when excluded and not valued for their competency, and are subjected to the use of sexist language.

Homosexual ministers are profoundly saddened when their orientation is described by official Vatican documents as "objective disturbance". Criminal activities of pedophilia and ephebephilia ministers over these past 20 to 30 years have left a trail of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims, plus pastoral and financial disaster. Silence, administrative cover-ups and transferals to other parishes have made this possible. This code of silence has wrecked and continues to diminish the Church's credibility.

This book is not just an exposé of the worst in the present day Catholic Church. Cozzens also appeals for strength and quality leadership in the church during these times of post-modernity, echoing the words of Paul to the young bishop Timothy: "The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit, but rather one that makes us strong,loving and wise" (2Tm 1, 7). He appeals for open forums on these issues. The People of God want to hear the Word of God and want to be heard. Silence protects the guilty. Dialog and faithful witness generates "truth with love".

Cozzens, Donald. Sacred Silence, The Liturgical Press, 2002. 207 p. w/ Index.

Despite its promising title, this book is a bust. It has no real unity. It is poorly written, and poorly organized. And the ideas are just so-so. I got it on sale and was sorry, even so, to have spent the money. Update: 12/14/05--Lakeland's positive review is obviously a mistake, since it is about another book (by Cuzzins).