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Saving Those Damned Catholics

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The basic idea of Ms. Brown's book is; if you don't believe what the Magisterium of the Catholic Church says are our core beliefs... get out.

And she's right. Nobody is forced to be Catholic so if you want to use birth control, have abortions, and pick and choose (as in cafeteria Catholics) a little of this and a lot of that and humm, none of that...trying to tailor make the Church to suit YOU well then, the Catholic Church is not for you.

As Ms. Brown clearly points out (and she ain't afraid to name names I might add) the Church's core beliefs are her core beliefs: in spite of the efforts of many to invent "wiggle room" there just isn't any, no matter what the USCCB and some of it's more notorious members say and/or do to the contrary.

This book is a must read for all the faithful. It's quite horrifying in places: Catholic nuns who are pro abortion, Catholic hospitals that allow abortions, Catholic Bishops and Archbishops who ought to, at the very least, hang their heads in shame and resign their offices, who instead continue to enable and even encourage behavior condemmed by the Catholic Church they have sworn to uphold and defend.

Good for you Judie Brown, this book needed to be written and needs to be read by all serious Catholics.

As a cradle Catholic who has seen the teachings of the Church watered-down for years, Saving Those Damned Catholics was a real eye-opener.

When Humanae Vitae was issued in the 1960s, I was too busy raising a family to understand the significance of this document and how the toleration of the dissent that surrounded it would start an overall decline in authentic Catholic teaching.

What I really like about Judie Brown's book is the documentation she provides to backup her major points. When she criticizes Bill O'Reilly or Chris Matthews, or any of the numerous bishops and priests mentioned in the book, she provides the documentation that shows that it is not just opinion ... it is fact. She does the same thing when she praises many bishops and other public figures.

Written in an easy-flowing style, it will be a book you will sail through easily and, when you are done, feel that you know a lot more than when you opened to the first page.

I recommend the book to Catholics and non-Catholics. Anyone interested in understanding the Catholic Church in America in the 21st Century should find this book worthwhile.

OK, now that I have your attention, this book is not an attack on the Catholic Church implying that it is a false religion. This is a book by Judie Brown, co-founder and president of the American Life League. It is a prophetic call for Catholic bishops, priests & laity in the USA to actually stand up for what the Catholic Church teaches about birth control, abortion, euthanasia, contraception, and embryonic stem cell research.

There is a problem out there, too many people are confused about what the Church teaches on these issues. The reasons are many. But a big problem is that too many bishops & priests don't accurately present them. Judie Brown divides the way things are presented into 3 classes, black, white & gray. Black is for those who totally pervert or misrepresent the Church's teaching, grey is for those who muddle things up, making it cloudy while not totally denying the teachings. White is for those who accurately present the teaching.

She starts each chapter with an example of each of the 3 types. Often for black or grey she uses a fictional Bishop (or Father) Grey or Black. This is not because she is making up the statements, but, I supect, mainly to protect those who told her about what was said from retaliation by the person quoted. Other times it is because so many are saying what she quotes that it is impossible to signal out just 1 person. However, Judie Brown does name names, including bishops, where she can. For white, just the opposite is true. She usually says exactly who said it. & while she is critical of the majority of Bishops, she does give examples of Bishops who do the right thing & encourages them. Unfortunately Bishops like Archbishop Chaput & Bishop Bruskewitz are few & far between.

It is not just bishops & priests who don't stand up for the truth that she goes after. She goes after prominate lay Catholics, liberal & conservative. Ted Kennedy, Bill O Reilly, Sean Hannity, Nancy Pelosi & others she points out have all disented on some part of the Church's teachings on these life issues. She shows how & why they are wrong.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also comes under the gun. She takes an honest look at the USCCB bureaucracy & the damage it has done. In her research she was told by 1 priest that the USCCB should be "abolished". & she supports his assertion with facts that show why he is right.

This book could have been an angry attack on those who are failing to proclaim the truth. It isn't. Instead her deep love for the Church & desire for it to fully be what it should shines throughout. & when she names names it is not a condemnation of the person, it is a call for them to repent. Saving Those Damned Catholics is not for the fainthearted who prefer to ignore the real problem in the Catholic Church, those who disent from the Church's teachings. It is not a comfortable book to read for those who love the Church because it doesn't pretend all is well. But it is well worth reading because it will encourage those who love the Church & want its priests & bishops to stand up & speak out to work to get the truth out there. & in the end, her main purpose for this book is, as she puts it, her concern about "the loss of souls." As she points out in an interview about the book: "(T)here is an eternal price to be paid for denying the truth. These bishops have to take that seriously and they have to do everything within their power to help people see the truth. And if, at the end of the day, as it says in the Bible - if you tell the truth and the person to whom you have told the truth decides not to do anything about it anyway, God will not hold you accountable but if you fail to tell the truth - you will be held accountable - thus the name of the book."

Hopefully many people will read this book & be led to action, speaking out, calling priests & bishops to uphold the Church's teaching, to proclaim it & to encourage all Catholics to do the same. This book is a must read for those who are concerned about the moral relativism that is everywhere these days. It is an excellent resource for dealing with the relativism & the harm that it is doing. It is a definite must read. I applaud Judie Brown for her courage in writing this book. & I pray that her efforts she put into this book will bear much fruit.

The book "Saving Those Damned Catholics" by Judie Brown was excellent! This is a book that is very thought provoking but, alas, very difficult to read. I had a lot of anger and frustration after reading it. There is a very real crisis in the Roman Catholic Church. Our leaders, the priests and bishops, are letting us down! The teachings of our Church are being betrayed and smoothed over by our priests and bishops in order for them to stay in their "comfort zone". The Church's teachings on birth control, abortion and euthanasia are not even being reinforced from the pulpit. Maybe that's why most Catholics are very confused on where their Church stands on these issues. Every priest and bishop should know where the Catholic Church stands (they certainly have Church teaching on this) but either because they feel uncomfortable about preaching on them or fear that there might be retaliation (collection basket) from a few in the congregation, there is silence - just silence...........

I feel that our priests and Bishops are our leaders and teachers in our Church. This is their job! They are supposed to help all of us to save our souls and reach our eternal reward in Heaven. They aren't here to make life "comfortable" for us. They aren't here to turn us into "cafeteria" Catholics. They aren't here to give us "feel good" homilies day in and day out. I heartily agree with Judie Brown when she says that our priests and bishops better start growing a backbone! Our souls are at stake! Thank God for all those wonderful priests and bishops who are preaching the truth and aren't afraid to shout it from the rooftops!!

Only someone with a keen mind, and a sense of moral certitude, could put this difficult subject into a book that is, at all times, respectful of the Church and its teachings, while demanding that the Bishops and Priests, who have sworn an allegiance to God, Himself, and His Holy Catholic Church, "teach people for whom you are ordained, both by word and by example, the things you understand from divine Scripture."

Mrs. Brown is well versed in her defense of the Church's teachings and presents not a personal "belief" but "the truth." As she so succinctly says in Chapter One, "There is a huge difference between what you or I "believe" and what the truth is." As she further says, and does, "Truth can be stated unapologetically while a personal belief is merely an opinion."

Mrs. Brown pulls no punches in this book, nor does she argue anything but the truth of the Holy Catholic Church teachings. Allow yourself to listen to the truth through this book, and you will have gained great insight into the true teachings of the Catholic Church, and also why her title, "Saving Those Damned Catholics," was well chosen.

If you haven't read Judie's book yet, you must, especially if you are Catholic. Too bad this book isn't a must read for every bishop and priest in America; maybe then they would go back to leading their sheep the way God intended. Judie clearly documents the crisis in the Church: leadership, or the absence thereof. This book is useful reading for non-Catholics as well. Maybe now they will understand why the country is in its current, moral, downward spiral. Thank you Judie! Kathy Kuhns, Wyomissing, PA

Every Catholic should read this book! It tells the truth about what has happened to our faith in NOT TEACHING the people the True Faith! Thats why so many Catholics have left, they don't know what they have. The priests need to stop being afraid of offending anyone and tell the truth. Christ told us what to do to gain heaven in following Him, not to be PC to keep everyone happy and don't upset anyone.

Once again, Judie Brown, has let charity guide her. "Saving Those Damned Catholics" is a long overdue fraternal correction to those who publicly claim Catholicism at election time and then, when it is to their advantage, deny the Church's social teaching on the LIFE issues. This damaging, divisive, scandalous behavior has to be admonished. Silence is acquiesence. Therefore, if the bishops will not call public sinners to account, the task falls to any Catholic with an informed conscience and the gumption to do the job.

If, as Jesus promised, "the Truth shall set you free", then this book may well reclaim many souls who have been led astray. While we all ardently pray for the conversion of sinners, including ourselves, we know that the very people whom Judie calls to account will likely turn away. But, as is often the case, the ripple effect may create a tidal wave made up of ordinary Catholics in the pews who will read the truth and embrace the Church's teachings on abortion, contraception and euthanasia.

So, I humbly offers my thanks to Judie for acting on the grace which clearly moved her to take up this cause -- defending the Truth.

Semper Fi, Judie!

This Judie Brown effort brings to task many of the Catholic prelates and politicians who think and say they are Catholic but who sadly are deficient when it comes to living their Catholic faith. She cites specifics by giving name,title, date and issue of where they have failed and often refused to act on their beliefs (if in fact they really do believe). Many Bishops come across as more politicians than Apostles. Priests and religious are noted who have and teach their own agenda which contradicts the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. She also notes those faithful to the Church who champion the Catholic faith and do battle with the secular world and frequently dissident Catholics. She is courteous and firm in her style--sort of the John Wayne type. You know where you stand and what's expected of you and if you cross the line I'll be there to remind you. A great book for the mature Catholic or your Pastor if he starts suggesting we need married priests or communal penance service.

Very well written! This book is filled with lots of documented facts. I hope this touches a lot of hearts out there. Judie Brown (the author) couldn't be any more right. You need to read this yourself.