From Scandal to Hope [Paperback]

Benedict J. Groeschel (Author), Timothy M. Dolan (Preface)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1931709696 | ISBN-13: 978-1931709699 | Publication Date: July 2002

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples:Scandals will necessarily come and make people fall;but woe to the one who has brought it about - Luke 17:1. The Catholic Church in the United States is facing what may be its greatest challenge. The deeds of a small percentage of priests and the consequent scandal have caused some to question their Faith. ? Priests are discouraged. ? Some are falsely accused. ? Bishops are shaken. ? Many Catholics are humiliated and demoralized. What will happen next? Best-selling author Fr. Benedict Groeschel provides a piercing and forthright examination of the roots of the current troubles, both within and without the Catholic Church. Calling upon the example of St. Francis, the founder of the rule he and his fellow Franciscans observe, Fr. Benedict encourages all of us to rebuild the Church, which is falling into ruin. Pray. Pray for the Church, and pray for the victims, and pray for our enemies. Let us pray that out of this darkness will come a more purified and better Church here in the United States. - Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Product Details

• Paperback: 217 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (IN) (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931709696
• ISBN-13: 978-1931709699
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding treatment of this difficult subject, November 12, 2005

By 

Jackie Tortorella - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Scandal to Hope (Paperback)

Fr. Groeschel is one of the most qualified people to write this book, because he has been deeply involved in the evaluation and treatment of troubled priests. Hib background as a psychologist gives him an insignt few church writers can match. As a result, this is an outstanding analysis of the problem, its cause, and its remedy. He describes the "progressive" movement and how it infected the Catholic Church as well as other institutions. The effects of mistaking permissiveness for tolerance permeated the seminaries and allowed the ordination of unsuitable candidates for the priesthood. Interestingly, this trend has been reversed and the newly ordained tend to be quite orthodox--this is a clear indication that Fr. Groeschel was correct in his analysis of the scandal's roots. The uninformed simply blame the Bishops for the scandals uncovered in recent years. But anyone who wants to go deeper should definitely read From Scandal to Hope. And anyone who cares about true reform will be bolstered by reading how the Church is being made stronger by overcoming this systemic problem.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For ALL American Catholics-An Awakening!, October 11, 2004

By 

Brandon B. Justice ((Archdiocese of) Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Scandal to Hope (Paperback)

By far one of Fr. Groeschel's works. This brief text finally gives us a well documented explanation of many epedemics inside our Church, especially the child abuse scandal. Disputing the media frenzy of anti-Catholic bias, Groeschel goes a step further and offers suggestions for laypeople, priests, abusers and bishops concerning the disaster. Groeschel lays out a groundwork of how we American Catholics have become lazy, secularized and victims of a growing "God-less" society. More importantly, he painfully points out examples of failures and offers ideas and encouragement of how we can and must REFORM. This prolific writer, theologian and psychologist has the courage to say that we must return to the anchor of orthodoxy to steer our mother Church (the body of Christ) back on course.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't freak out, August 22, 2005

By 

Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Scandal to Hope (Paperback)

Father Benedict Groeshel is such a calm and graceful writer. The message of this book is pretty simple and straightforward. Don't freak out. Yes, the scandals have been heartbreaking and yes these last couple of years have been one shock after another but don't let it kill your faith or your reasoning ability. The church has, Father Groeschel points out, suffered scandals before and came back stronger from them. Stupid, evil, filthy things have happened and stupid, callow people stood by and did nothing but there is hope.

The book is very honest, and calls for reform as loudly and as clearly as can be. And the reform it calls for isn't just for the clergy, the book has some stern words for the laity as well.

From Scandal to Hope is relief to the grieving and confused and a rebuke to those who are frankly enjoying the scandal for their own reasons. It's a tiny book but packs a wallop.