Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church (Paperback)

by Donald Cozzens (Author) "THE SILENCE, DENIAL, AND MINIMIZATION discussed in these pages have numerous roots-some conscious, others unconscious, some personal, others more properly associated with the collective mind-set..." (more)
Key Phrases: priest abusers, active diocesan priests, mandated celibacy, John Paul, Jesus Christ, Cardinal Law (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This is an honest and insightful book. It is written with calm and restraint. Though it is an uncompromising and relentless chronicle of the less edifying features of Church life, its purpose is to heal rather than to hurt. ... Above all, it is a plea for open discussion and honest debate on issues and problems to which reasoned and credible responses can no longer be delayed. It is a book which deserves to be treated with the respect with which it is written.

Product Description
Many individuals take risks in life such as mountain climbers, magicians, farmers, and gamblers. But do we ever include preachers in that category? Preachers have opportunities to be some of the greatest risk takers. In Preacher as Risk Taker, Richard Hart, O.F.M. Cap., challenges preachers to be on the cutting edge by taking risks resulting in better preaching.

How many preachers are willing to submit their homilies to an editor or have their homilies taped? Are poetic preachers ready to preach in a changing Church? How often do preachers discuss social sin, the environment, ageing, the reign of God, or Paul’s epistles? Do today’s preachers realize how important it is to preach through healing or Jesus as a wisdom figure? Finally, do preachers know the true difference between a eulogy and a homily? Hart offers insight to each of these questions for preachers interested in improving their homilies.

Preachers might not be asked to scale a mountain or act as a magician. But preachers are asked to take similar risks when preaching on challenging topics. In Preacher as Risk Taker, Father Hart provides answers for those interested in becoming spirited preachers.

Chapters are "Preacher as Risk Taker," "Editing a Homily," "To Tape or Not to Tape," "Preacher as Poet," "Preaching in a Changing Church," "Dare We Preach on Sin?" "Have We Ever Preached on the Environment?" "Do We Heal When We Preach?" "How To Preach on Ageing," "Preaching the Wisdom of Jesus," "What Jesus Preached Most," "Why Not Preach on St. Paul’s Epistles?" and "Homilies Vs. Eulogies." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814627315
• ISBN-13: 978-0814627310
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,090,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars almost unique--sadly enough, October 27, 2005

By	paul lakeland (Fairfield, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

4.0 out of 5 stars Ministry in truth and trust, January 19, 2009

By	Duane G Roy (Atchison, KS) - See all my reviews

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.

0 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, December 10, 2003

By	James Klagge "jck1954" (Blacksburg, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Preacher As Risk Taker (Paperback)

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).