THE
P RTAL
September 2018
Page 24
The fruits of
reading during a
stay in hospital
Geoffrey Kirk gives us the
benefit of his recent reading
O ne gets
tired of books about Pope Francis. They range from the
hagiographical (Austen Ivereigh’s ‘The Great Reformer’) to damnatory
(Henry Sire’s ‘Dictator Pope’); but in truth they seldom make us any wiser
about this enigmatic and often self-contradictory man.
I have read most of them (largely as a result of some extended stays in hospital)
and there is only one I would wholeheartedly recommend. ‘Lost Shepherd’
[ISBN 978-1-62157-722-5], by Philip Lawler editor of the American Catholic
World News, is short (195 pages), well researched and seeks to give Francis the
benefit of the doubt. ‘Pope Francis’, he concludes, ‘has not taught heresy, but
the confusion he has stirred up has destabilised the universal church.’
If you want a truthful analysis of the events of this pontificate – its successes
and its failures – this is the book to read. Lawler is particularly good on the failure of reforms to the Vatican
finances, and the abandonment of the promised audit. He delineates as clearly as can be what he describes as
the turf wars between the Secretariat for the Economy
and the APSA, and commiserates with the failure of
Cardinal Pell to take control.
Similarly, he gives the facts about the disintegration
of Cardinal O’Malley’s commission on child abuse and
the resignation of Marie Collins and other members.
(This section has gained a new relevance with the
recent letter to the faithful reiterating Benedict XVI’s
apology of 2010.)
A long section is devoted to the alleged manipulation
of the two Synods on the family, from which Cardinal
Baldasseri does not come out well.
What remains a mystery is how much responsibility
for these failures, confusions and distraction can be
laid at the Pope’s door. Lawler is inclined to think that
it is considerable; but stops short of blaming Francis for
every failure, as some other writers are inclined to do.
On the vexed subject of the Dubia, he is inclined
to keep his counsel. But that Amoris Laetitiae needs
clarification he has no doubt.
This is a skilful and careful narrative, argued with
rigorous logic. You should give it a try.