Clerical Error: A True Story, Robert Blair Kaiser, Continuum, 2002, 0826413846, 9780826413840, 297 pages. Twenty-nine years old, newly married, and fresh from the , where he had spent ten years as a novice and scholastic, Bob Kaiser was picked for one of the most exciting jobs in journalism of his era: Time's reporter at the . In the words of Michael Novak: "No reporter knew more about the Council; had talked with more of the personalities, prominent or minor; had more sources of information to tap. Sunday evening dinner parties at his apartment became a rendezvous of stimulating and informed persons. In the English-speaking world, at least, perhaps no source was to have quite the catalytic effect as Time on opinion outside the Council and even to an extent within it." Much of inner story of the Council-its personalities, machinations, maneuverings between progressive forces and the old guard-was told in Bob Kaiser's bestseller of the early sixties Pope, Council, and World. This is a different story, one so raw and personal that it could only be told some forty years later in a very different church and by a much matured Bob Kaiser. The heart of the story is how Bob's wife was seduced by his friend, the Jesuit priest Malachy Martin, and how Martin ("a man who could make people laugh in seven languages)" persuaded Kaiser's other clerical friends (including notable bishops and prominent theologians) to send him to a sanitorium. The story is at once hilarious (Martin was one of the great clerical con men of all time) and sobering. The "clerical error"--the refusal to see what Martin was up to--was as much Kaiser's as that of his older clerical friends who defended their fellow priest simply because he was a member of the club. Their naivete and their blindness only mirrors the church's inability to deal realistically with any issue touched by sex: birth control, remarriage after divorce, priestly celibacy, clerical child abuse, or the ordination of women. Bob Kaiser did eventually grow up. He knows the official church has a long way to go..

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An Exorcist Tells His Story , Gabriele Amorth, Jan 1, 1999, Religion, 205 pages. In this powerful book, the renowned exorcist of Rome tells of his many experiences in his ministry as an exorcist doing battle with Satan to relieve the great suffering of ....

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Twenty-nine years old, newly married, and fresh from the Society of Jesus, where he had spent ten years as a novice and scholastic, Bob Kaiser was picked for one of the most exciting jobs in journalism of his era: Time's reporter at the Second Vatican Council. In the words of Michael Novak: "No reporter knew more about the Council; had talked with more of the personalities, prominent or minor; had more sources of information to tap. Sunday evening dinner parties at his apartment became a rendezvous of stimulating and informed persons. In the English-speaking world, at least, perhaps no source was to have quite the catalytic effect as Time on opinion outside the Council and even to an extent within it." Much of inner story of the Council-its personalities, machinations, maneuverings between progressive forces and the old guard-was told in Bob Kaiser's bestseller of the early sixties Pope, Council, and World. This is a different story, one so raw and personal that it could only be told some forty years later in a very different church and by a much matured Bob Kaiser. The heart of the story is how Bob's wife was seduced by his friend, the Jesuit priest Malachy Martin, and how Martin ("a man who could make people laugh in seven languages)" persuaded Kaiser's other clerical friends (including notable bishops and prominent theologians) to send him to a sanitorium. The story is at once hilarious (Martin was one of the great clerical con men of all time) and sobering. The "clerical error"--the refusal to see what Martin was up to--was as much Kaiser's as that of his older clerical friends who defended their fellow priest simply because he was a member of the club. Their naivete and their blindness only mirrors the church's inability to deal realistically with any issue touched by sex: birth control, remarriage after divorce, priestly celibacy, clerical child abuse, or the ordination of women. Bob Kaiser did eventually grow up. He knows the official church has a long way to go.

Against the backdrop of the Catholic Church's historic Second Vatican Council, Kaiser, a former reporter for Time magazine, recounts the remarkable story of how his first marriage was destroyed by his wife's affair with the Jesuit priest Malachy Martin. Kaiser's life in the 1960s was inextricably caught up with the Council, and he relates as much about the assembly's inner workings as he does his personal crisis. To learn what was going on in the closed Council sessions, Kaiser cultivated its key players, primarily those promoting a liberal agenda, and invited them into his home, which became known as "a center of the Council's progressive wing." One of his frequent guests was Martin, who offered Kaiser help with research for his book on the Council and also managed to charm his wife, Mary. By the time Kaiser began to suspect a liaison between Martin and his wife, it was too far gone to stop. When he tried to expose it, he discovered that, at least by this account, Martin had conspired to have him admitted to a mental hospital. Kaiser, who spent 10 years with the Jesuits but left before he was ordained, paints himself as a victim of Martin, but also acknowledges his own failure to "grow up," an attitude he says was fostered by the church and the Jesuits. Although this memoir is based on a true story, it reads in many places like a novel, and a few elements strain credulity.

"Great entertainment. A genuine page-turner. It races along like a fast-paced thriller. Strutting aside, Kaiser provides discrete chunks of cameo, first-class Catholic history here. There are lots of names, but not name-dropped names. Quite honestly, the book would be unbelievable were Kaiser not telling it with such frankness." —Arthur Jones, National Catholic Reporter, March 8 2002

I can imagine the author has carried this sadness and yes perhaps bitterness most of his life. The worst part of carrying something like this is the fact that no matter how good or honest or how well someone knows you, (even all of your life) someone else who is so charming and enthralling like Father Malachi, can convince others YOU are the one lying and they will doubt you but believe them.

I wasn't shocked about some of the goings on within the church, that's life, but to go as far as a mental institution for the author?? to go 'that' far? Let alone to find out who the main antagonist was, Fr. Malachy Martin; a well beloved (up till now) and well known priest and the dastardly deeds that lurked deep within him. THAT was the shock!

I've read most of Fr. Martins books and thought of him as this wonderful Irish grandfatherly type, a wise man figure who knew much of the interior workings of the vatican. I now believe that most of what he spouted definitely was his own political agenda. I guess I've been as duped as the author was and glad to have my eyes opened about Fr. Martin's true personality. This book shows how easily we can all be deceived.

I will say that the background of Blairs life in the seminary at times was just a little too long of tooth and drawn out, though I did find it interesting, but half way through is when it became fascinating and I couldn't put it down till I finished it. I know of one illustrious name in particular in the book that lent absolute credence to the whole book for me and I believe it to absolutely true, no doubt in my mind. Good book, good read, and if you want to know how a sociopath's mind works and manipulates, this is one of them from a personal viewpoint. Read more ›

Robert Blair Kaiser, who brilliantly made his mark as the principal Time correspondent covering the First Session of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), describes his memoir as coming-of-age stories, his own and that of the Catholic Church at Vatican II. Sadly, as much as Kaiser has grown up, and moved on with his life despite personal tragedy, the institutional Church might be characterized as stuck in arrested development, still mired in sexual scandals that have bankrupted dioceses and tarnished the image of the priesthood and religious life. This book directs trenchant criticism of the Church on matters of sexuality.

The first two parts of Kaiser's book take enjoyable excursions, first through the life of a Jesuit novice and scholastic in the 1950s--considerably different, I can tell you, from my experience as a Jesuit novice in the early 1980s. Kaiser was a Jesuit for ten years, leaving before being ordained a priest. He describes what it was like to undergo Jesuit formation in the years before Vatican II, some of his experiences being quite humorous, and some of them darkly foreshadowing later crises. The second part of the book details Kaiser's post-Jesuit foray into journalism, eventually leading him to Rome as a Time correspondent just as Vatican II is called. Kaiser's religious background, social skills, and curiosity prepare him well to deliver the inside story of Vatican II to readers in the United States and United Kingdom; only The New Yorker's pseudonymous Xavier Rynne (Francis X. Murphy) had as much if not greater impact on the English-speaking world's encountering the revolutionary spirit of the Council.

The third and greater part of the book tragically recounts the dissolution of Kaiser's marriage. As Kaiser becomes increasingly absorbed with the Council and with his related personal successes (his book on the Council wins high acclaim), and so abandoning his young family for days and weeks at a time, his wife Mary turns to one of his friends, the Jesuit priest Malachi Martin, for solace and companionship. In time, Kaiser begins to suspect that Mary and Martin are having a sexual relationship. Some of Kaiser's other friends, however, feel that Kaiser is paranoid, that he has been overworking and is losing his grip on reality. They go so far as to direct Kaiser to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. In time, Kaiser (who, as the narrative makes clear, has his own moral failings) finds evidence that Mary has been using birth control pills during his long absences; later he obtains copies of Martin's scandalous letters to his wife. He is finally vindicated when Martin's superiors begin to accept, all too late, Martin's culpability in the affair.

If this sounds like a pot boiler, it certainly reads like one. The emotions are raw, and Kaiser's actions almost vindictive. (Mary, who is as culpable, fares better than Martin.) Indeed, if not for Kaiser's impeccable credentials as a journalist, and the independently raised concerns about Martin's morals and ethics in other situations, one might be tempted to shrug off this account as simply Kaiser's biased personal perspective at best and fantasy at worst. Kaiser's story rings all too true to let Martin and, for that matter, those who protected him, off the hook.

Apart from this sordid affair, Kaiser's account raises troubling questions about the institutional Church's ability to grapple reasonably and effectively with matters involving sexuality. From the tragic and harmful effects of repressed sexuality among some clergy and religious to its controversial handling of the birth control issue in the 1960s the institutional Church has been desperate to uphold its bulwark of moral certitude in matters of sexuality. Meanwhile, for decades, the People of God have largely been drifting from a Church that has been prone to just say "No" on most matters of sexuality while appearing widely and flagrantly hypocritical when it comes to the sexual failings of the clergy and religious.

In Kaiser's view, the institutional Church discourages the People of God from thinking for itself. It was his ability to recognize that for himself that allowed Kaiser to finally grow up. (The reader notes with caution, though, that Kaiser's view of women in this book has usually to do with their sexual attributes and not much more. This does a disservice to his claim.) But encouraging the People of God to think for themselves is only half the answer (and is happening anyway, with deleterious effect as far as religion is concerned); the other, more difficult challenge ahead for the Church is moving towards a more positive embracing of sexuality, to become a Church that says "Yes" on matters of sexuality and of love in a healthy and responsible environment. Ultimately this will mean deeply reexamining, in the light of contemporary science and the actual, lived experiences of heterosexual and homosexual men and women, basic questions about sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and marriage and sexual expression in the context of faith and morality. The Church will also need to review current proscriptions that currently serve as barriers to people's exercising their faith in the context of the Church. Finally, the Church will need to do a better job at communicating its message, following up on positive statements made by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Read more ›

He tells all about himself as a young pre-Vat II husband and he admits to being somewhat less than noteworthy. Indeed, he was a wretch. His knowledge of how to love and how to show love to the beloved was sorely lacking. He was pitiful. He does not deny this fact. It is no wonder that his wife, Mary, took up with the odios priest, Fr. Malachy.

Kaiser was undeniably naive. He was also undeniably self-confident and cocky. His note-worthy friends were equally naive regarding the feminine gender. How pitiable it is to realize that men such as they rule the Catholic Church and they are the ones who make the rules for the rest of us to live by. What a farce. They preach as though they know the mind of God. Yet, they know nothing of love, in depth love, intimate love. And they do not even realize that they know nothing except what they read. How scary that is!

In "Clerical Error" a Time reporter starts off slowly relating the story of seminary days. He finds love and the story peaks with a kaleidoscope of famous names and fascinating people in a setting of the Church and the city of Rome. It culminates in fascinating revelations of naivete and pathological intrigue. You can tell the author was a Time reporter, since you cannot put the book down.

Four of his thirteen published books deal with Catholic Church reform. His latest books include A Church in Search of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future and "Cardinal Mahony: A Novel." A new version of his 1970 best seller, R.F.K. Must Die!" was published in 2008, with a new sub-title, "Chasing the Mystery of the Robert Kennedy Assassination.

Kaiser's speech in Ireland on August 19, 2010, at the Humbert Summer School, entitled "Catholic Church Reform: No More Thrones," called for Irish Catholics to boldly initiate an ecclesiastical revolution through which they would remove secretive hierarchy, take back their cathedrals, and elect their own bishops. aggiornamento American Archbishop asked Betsy Biblicum bishops Brother Costaregni Brother Overstreet called Capovilla Cardinal Ottaviani cassock Catholic Christmas Church clerical Clurman Council Fathers dinner door editors eyes feel Frank McCool Frank Murphy friends gave going gotten hand Holy Office Italian Jesuit Jesus John Courtney Murray Kaiser Karen kids kind kissed knew laughed Lavinio letters looked Loyola lunch Malachy Martin Malachy's Mary Mary's Master McCool Meridee morning Msgr never nodded Novices Novitiate play Pope John Pope John XXIII pope's priest Quirico Filopanti reporting Robert Blair Kaiser Roman Curia Rome schema seemed session smiled Society of Jesus someone started story Sunday night sure T. D. Roberts talk tell theologians things thought Time's told took tried trying turned Vatican Veneto wanted week women wondered words wrote York

Robert Blair Kaiser is the author of 8 books. His articles have appeared in a score of magazines from Life to Look to Rolling Stone, Saturday Review, Ladies Home Journal, and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. He currently writes for Newsweek from Rome, where he also pens his periodical e-mail letters on the Vatican, which are enjoyed by thousands of persons around the world.

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Twenty-nine years old, newly married, and fresh from the Society of Jesus, where he had spent ten years as a novice and scholastic, Bob Kaiser was picked for one of the most exciting jobs in journalism of his era: Time's reporter at the Second Vatican Council. In the words of Michael Novak: "No reporter knew more about the Council; had talked with more of the personalities, prominent or minor; had more sources of information to tap. Sunday evening dinner parties at his apartment became a rendezvous of ...

On the winding drive up the hill from Los Gatos, I couldn't see the Novitiate. Then, one more bend of the road, and there it was, looming up at me so suddenly I felt it was going to fall on me. Still in the car, I goggled at a painted statue that was too big for the courtyard, an effeminate figure—with a beard—holding his heart in his hand. My greeter spoke to me as I climbed out of the car, but I didn't hear him. I couldn't wait to flee the perpendency of that façade, and the scary statue. And I wondered what folly I'd embarked upon—minor me, a very young seventeen, hardly shaving yet, daring to enter the mighty Jesuit Order.

The greeter was one of the legendary Callanan brothers from my own alma mater, Loyola High in Los Angeles, Jack Callanan. I was grateful when he led me off to a redwood-shaded walk and helped me calm down, ambling along with both hands stuck in the cincture of his cassock, arms casually akimbo. "That's the Juniors' side of the house," he said, nodding behind him. And then, waving at the nearer building, "This is where the Novices live."

I was soothed by the leafy greenness there, a cool contrast to the hot stare I had seen on the face of that building. I nodded with pleasure at the rows of rose bushes that stretchedon both sides of the walkway in front of me, framing the open gateway to the Novices' garden, where a small printed sign said CLOISTER. And I brightened when I saw Bob Jay, my teammate on the baseball team at Loyola High, who had preceded me here by a year. Well, I thought, maybe I'll just stay for dinner, then leave. http://edufb.net/2129.pdf http://edufb.net/2870.pdf http://edufb.net/2117.pdf http://edufb.net/1709.pdf http://edufb.net/2708.pdf http://edufb.net/2464.pdf http://edufb.net/1437.pdf http://edufb.net/1622.pdf http://edufb.net/1049.pdf http://edufb.net/1297.pdf http://edufb.net/2336.pdf http://edufb.net/71.pdf http://edufb.net/485.pdf