In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy; THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Feb 2019 · Bloomsbury Publishing
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5 reviews
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The New York Times Bestseller
'[An] earth-shaking exposé of clerical corruption' - National Catholic Reporter
In the Closet of the Vatican exposes the rot at the heart of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church today. This brilliant piece of investigative writing is based on four years' authoritative research, including extensive interviews with those in power.
The celibacy of priests, the condemnation of the use of contraceptives, the cover up of countless cases of sexual abuse, the resignation of Benedict XVI, misogyny among the clergy, the dramatic fall in Europe of the number of vocations to the priesthood, the plotting against Pope Francis all these issues are clouded in mystery and secrecy.
In the Closet of the Vatican is a book that reveals these secrets and penetrates this enigma. It derives from a system founded on a clerical culture of secrecy which starts in junior seminaries and continues right up to the Vatican itself. It is based on the double lives of priests and on extreme homophobia. The resulting schizophrenia in the Church is hard to fathom. But the more a prelate is homophobic, the more likely it is that he is himself gay.
'Behind rigidity there is always something hidden, in many cases a double life'. These are the words of Pope Francis himself and with them the Pope has unlocked the Closet.
No one can claim to really understand the Catholic Church today until they have read this book. It reveals a truth that is extraordinary and disturbing.
'[An] earth-shaking exposé of clerical corruption' - National Catholic Reporter
In the Closet of the Vatican exposes the rot at the heart of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church today. This brilliant piece of investigative writing is based on four years' authoritative research, including extensive interviews with those in power.
The celibacy of priests, the condemnation of the use of contraceptives, the cover up of countless cases of sexual abuse, the resignation of Benedict XVI, misogyny among the clergy, the dramatic fall in Europe of the number of vocations to the priesthood, the plotting against Pope Francis all these issues are clouded in mystery and secrecy.
In the Closet of the Vatican is a book that reveals these secrets and penetrates this enigma. It derives from a system founded on a clerical culture of secrecy which starts in junior seminaries and continues right up to the Vatican itself. It is based on the double lives of priests and on extreme homophobia. The resulting schizophrenia in the Church is hard to fathom. But the more a prelate is homophobic, the more likely it is that he is himself gay.
'Behind rigidity there is always something hidden, in many cases a double life'. These are the words of Pope Francis himself and with them the Pope has unlocked the Closet.
No one can claim to really understand the Catholic Church today until they have read this book. It reveals a truth that is extraordinary and disturbing.
The New York Times Bestseller
'[An] earth-shaking exposé of clerical corruption' - National Catholic Reporter
In the Closet of the Vatican exposes the rot at the heart of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church today. This brilliant piece of investigative writing is based on four years' autho...
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5 reviews
John McArthur
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December 31, 2024
The author can only see the principle issue in black and white terms i.e. any priests who believe what the bible teaches is 'homophobic" (75 occurrences in the book) and obviously no good whereas priests who do not are gay friendly and good. He can only see the drop in vocations as being due to homsexuals now being accepted in wider society, with the priesthood no longer being so attractive, rather than place it in the context of the drop in practicing Catholics in general. The dichotomy between what it claims and what the Church is like is basically ignored i. e. if it is a hospital for sinners why is that not reflected in the way it's doctors live who appear to be more ill than the patients they are supposed to mend? A superficial book at the level of a tabloid journalist.
Nigel Martin
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May 4, 2019
amazing read well written and impeccably researched
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Frédéric Martel (PhD) is a French writer and researcher. He is also a journalist for French national radio and the author of ten books, which have been translated and published in more than 25 countries. He lives in Paris.
In the Closet of the Vatican is published simultaneously in eight languages.
In the Closet of the Vatican is published simultaneously in eight languages.
Frédéric Martel (PhD) is a French writer and researcher. He is also a journalist for French national radio and the author of ten books, which have been translated and published in more than 25 countries. He lives in Paris.
In the Closet of the Vatican is published simultaneously in eight languages.
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