Author Jason Berry's illuminating new book about the Roman Catholic Church,"Render Unto Rome" is the third book in a trilogy of expose's about
the Sexually and Financially Troubled "True Church of Jesus of Nazareth." This novel honestly reveals the behind the scenes structure, motivations and mindset of the ruling Modern Day Apostles of Christ. Jason Berry describes a reality and truth you will not be told in Diocesan Newspapers, vocation films or the Catholic Church Television Network broadcasts airing on some TV stations around the country. Molestation Survivors may find this book triggering and infuriating, while others, validating.
While reading this compelling expose of this Church Institution I was baptized in, I am reminded of the first time I came face to face with "The Supreme Rock" of the Roman Catholic Universal Church. It was with my parents and grandparents one fall day, on the steps of the Elks Club on Queens Boulevard in Queens County, New York. It was during the 1965 visit of Pope Paul VI to the United Nations. His motorcade drove by us, heading toward the famous Manhattan building, the UN, to address diplomats from around the World. Little did I know as a 7 year old, the cantankerous relationship I would have with the Divine Institution then led by the waiving, smiling older Supreme Pontiff of Christ's Spiritual Shepards, Pope Paul VI and his successors.
Like Virgil in Dante's Inferno, Berry takes the reader by the shoulder and guides them through the numerous constructed layers that is the 20th and
21st Centuries Roman Catholic Church Community. As you read along, you'll see the top to bottom Faith Structures, varying in degrees of hellishness.
"Render Unto Rome" is an honest, credible, unvarnished look at the bad fruits of deliberate labors of lovelessness by many of the " Fishers of Men."
Berry, describes an Archbishop named Lennon, who is emotionally nothing like his former Beatles namesake John, assigned by Rome to replace Boston's infamous Cardinal Law.
He describes a Mexican Religious Order founder who has a proclivity towards his younger seminary students and young women. Berry exposes Vatican Apostolic Successor Cardinal Sodano who cuddles up to Latin dictators and mildly encourages slick young Italian business operatives into financial scamming. Berry's book doesn't miss a beat.
As a Roman Catholic Priest Sexually Molested surviving victim (1974), I was glued to every page spotlighting the consequences of selfishness and hedonism which have been a well hidden part of Apostolic Living for far too long. One gets a real upfront view of the consequences of misplaced blind loyalty.
Berry investigates another angle of these past few decades of the Roman Catholic sexual abuse crisis. How the Church is going to pay for the victims financial restitution. He picks up after Cardinal Law's departure. Surviving Victims unaware of the added damage done to the faithful by the Hierarchies autocratic decisions to close down and sell off, long attended parishes, will not be surprised by the continued disregard for people's spiritual lives,contributions and feelings. Laity should take note that unwavering blind obedience and participation in secrecy can cost them, when those restitution prices need to be paid by the selling of their parish properties.
Berry describes the cat and mouse relationship between some lay and clerical "rebels" with the "Official Magisterium." A pattern of heavy involvement in Church life, then disillusionment and distance from it. One wonders, with all the Sins forgiven by the participation in numerous Eucharistic Meals, spiritual retreats and confessions given over the years, how the deceit, coldness to the sexually assaulted, cultic patterns of an infamous religious order and Vatican bank financial scams were so deliberately embraced by adult Religous professionals who say they know better.
If the Hierarchy in Rome is not picking this book up, analyzing and learning some very important lessons from it, then many lives, sweat and tears will have been waisted in vain. As Rome now changes the language of the Mass, reversing the language changes of Vatican II ,to get a closer translation from the Latin, Berry recommends they also start reforming the Roman Church's decision making structures. Having more checks and balances, Berry concludes, better ensures honesty with the faithful. As things now stand, Berry reveals the tradition of Apostolic Succession trumps all and even though they are Evangelizers of the Word, they can become exempt from having to always live by it. Mixed messages, secrecy and forked tongues become the order of the day and have been for far too many decades.
It is true Christ forgives sins, but he also demands conversion afterwards and "Render Unto Rome" outlines very clearly, specific areas within the Roman Catholic Church system where those conversion experiences, still very much need to occur.
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"Brad" Survivor of a 1974 Priest Sexual Assault
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Top reviews from other countries
- Honrus PublicusReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2012
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same!
