Book Condemning Church Heirarchy Banned from Basilica

A book discussing the sexual abuse crisis in the Church and the reasons for the decline of Catholicism in Boston was removed from The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s gift shop in June. A scheduled signing of the book at the Basilica was also cancelled.

The book, entitled The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston’s Catholic Culture, is an exploration of the events that took place within the Church during the priest sexual abuse scandal, specific to Boston, but also as a microcosm of the Church in America.

“The bookstore is free, of course, to invite the speakers and carry the books it wants– and by implication to exclude others,” said Philip Lawler, the author of the book. Lawler is also an editor at Catholic World News and a native Bostonian.

This issue is always on his mind, said Deirdre Lawler, the author’s daughter, who is also a sophomore at the University. “It is a work that reflects who he is as a person, and his whole life,” she said.

The book was removed after Rev. Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica, read the book and received complaints about it. It has been suggested that the number of complaints were from officials within the Church’s hierarchy, whom the book criticizes.

“I don’t know if it fosters healing and reconciliation,” Rossi said in an interview with the Washington Times.

“I thought it contributed to a greater breaking down of the Church, rather than building it up.”

According to Rossi, the call for healing and reconciliation comes from Pope Benedict XVI, and the book does nothing to work towards that goal.

Lawler, a practicing Catholic, does not disagree with the need for healing, but feels that the issue is still being swept under the rug by the Church’s hierarchy.

“I believe that the book has answers that lead towards healing and reconciliation; it just does so through a challenge to American Bishops,” said Lawler’s daughter.

“My only regret is that so many Church leaders are still refusing to examine the underlying causes of the scandal,” said Lawler. “Until we fully understand the disease we cannot expect to devise a real cure.”

The book has been well received by the general public, however, with the first printing of 7,500 selling out. Lawler also garnered several positive reviews as well.

“I hope no one is jumping to the conclusion that The Faithful Departed is an attack on the Catholic Church,” said Lawler. “That is absolutely not the case.”

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