Plus ca change

I understand why some people have given a bad review to this book. There are still Catholics out there who are a lot like Trump supporters, but really? What do people expect? A huge, global organisation populated and run almost entirely by me? I have personal experience - though not abuse - knowledge of abuse of boys within the Catholic church who have been abused. The priest was shipped out as soon as the stories started bobbing to the surface. It happens. And yet there are so many who still completely avoid the law. A quotation read that anyone who profess to loath, despise and an overwhelming desire to ban and shun homosexuals. These people really are more likely to have homosexual leanings. A lifetime of mixing with lovely, kind, funny people who happen to be homosexuals has taught me that. Likewise, those who accept and welcome TGBT people are (obviously) either TGBT (absolutely nothing wrong with that), or have no homosexual leanings, just complete acceptance of people who are.

It happens. A lot. If you can't accept it, just send the book back, because it goes against your deepest held beliefs, but don't just call it a bad book. It isn't. . Just like it's always been, it turns out that there are still 'nephews' who benefit from nepotism. Why not feel a tiny bit grateful that the pope no longer throws wild parties and hideously expensive weddings for openly accepted sons and daughters? What on earth are you going to do if, for instance, they elect another Borgia pope?

I listened to the entire book and found it interesting if not informative. But then, you an always learn about something you think you already know.

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Eye opening - The Truth hurts !!!!

Brilliantly researched by Frederic Martel, great narration by John Banks, eye opening? religion is poisonous!!!!

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1 person found this helpful

Generous, can't put down read

Well written, generous and thoroughly researched. Did well to unpack the drivers holding these closet doors closed.

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6 people found this helpful

Part journalism part queer theories

It's interesting but could be more if the author was focused on the accusations (in the legal sense) of the Vatican throughout the whole book. Concisely it's good up the end of pontificate John Paul II. As a Polish I grew up during his pontificate (he was elected a year before I was born), and I remember that he was revered as an staunch fighter against communist regime, strong moral figure and wise man and I also remember that his last years as a Pope were very hard due to Parkinson's disease. The book didn't offer answers to key questions that mark the end of his pontificate (was he complicit, naive, unable to see or wilfully blind to the crimes Marcial Maciel and his Legion of Christ or shortcomings of Angelo Sodano). Was his fight against communist regime something that casted that big shadow that he wasn't able to see anything else or because he prioritises that task he didn't wanted to see or hear anything else or is there any other explanation. Long story short up to this point the book is good because it focuses on something that is real (as a book written in the investigative journalism manner should be). The other part of the book is to me queer insight to the Battle of Vatican or Great Gay War where gays who hate themselves (the rigid ones who hold power and want maintain status quo) fight perfumed ones (who loves themselves are very talented especially in arts but at the same time very petty, want to change the face of the Institution to something "beautiful" like Atlantis but with more sex and art). Examples: Benedict was passe because he might be gay but wasn't very showy about it, every crazy way of life as road to heaven (queer theology), gender theory in practice because of robes and that strange preoccupation with priests and their way of life with the accent that Christianity must be gay loving. The other part might be interesting from psychological perspective but didn't add journalistic value to the book.

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant if you understand the Catholic Church

If you don’t have a interest in catholic history and some knowledge of how it works this book isn’t for you
If on the other hand you do have that interest and knowledge then this book will blow your mind
It’s a little bit hard going at the start but bear with it and it becomes mind blowing
It’s well research and based in facts the Author is honest enough to tell you if he couldn’t back up what he was telling you with multiple first hand accounts
This book is a must listen to for anyone who is catholic has a Christian faith or just has an interest in these things and a little knowledge

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Superb!

I've just finished this and I'm going straight back to the start. Absolutely captivating. Beautifully read with an English voice that is a delight to listen to. This didn't shake my Catholic faith at all, I just found it sad and perplexing. Just brilliant.

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1 person found this helpful

Couldn't have been any more detailed

In depth research on such a taboo area, incredibly written and performed. Thoroughly enjoyed all the way through

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7 people found this helpful

Stunning indictment of Catholic Church

Amazing and disturbing. You will neverlook at the Catholic Church in the same way again. My one criticism is that it is too long and repetitive at times.

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5 people found this helpful

A book both believers and non-believers should read.

The revelations in this book will come as no surprise to anyone acquainted with the church. The scope of this book is mainly from the 1960s onwards, but things have ever been thus. It is the story of how repressed homosexual men came to dictate the morality for the masses since Christianity came into being. You would almost feel sorry for these vain, venal, pompous, unhappy men but for the damage they've inflicted on homosexuals and heterosexuals alike. Hypocrisy at it's most blatant.

A long read that I enjoyed every page of, thanks to the author's wry sense of humour.

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A bad book

Given the splash the publication of this book briefly made in the news, I set out to listen to it, and did so with curiosity and an open mind. To say that this book is poorly written is as polite as I can manage. The author uses a rambling and prurient style, and attempts to support an unfocused thesis with innuendo and unsubstantiated statements. Historical facts are added seemingly to support his statements but are mostly unconnected to the issue being discussed and seem intended to distract and give the (false) impression of a weighty argument. Generalisation are frequent and betray the author’s bias and clear lack of true knowledge of religion in general and in particular.

The supposed witnesses often give the impression (unintentionally I assume) if being unreliable and questionable motivation. The stories lack convincing detail and seem to be told to give the author what he wants to hear. The author is clearly and openly biased and therefore an unreliable guide. The lack of critical thinking and assessment of his supposed facts is frustrating and speaks loudly of the poor quality of this book.

The author is self-obsessed to an extreme degree. I lost track of the amount of examples where his emotions or impressions on any given situation are taken as evidence of truth that we are expected to accept without question.

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13 people found this helpful