In 2002, the priesthood pedophile scandal rocked the foundation of the Catholic Church in Boston with shockwaves that reverberated around the world. It was on the cover of every major newspaper in the country. Jennifer Haigh exposes some of what may have happened in her new novel “Faith.”

The McGanns are a typical Irish Catholic family. They are elated with pride when their oldest son, Art, joins the priesthood and dedicates his life to serving God and others. He is in his mid fifties when the archdiocese unceremoniously removes him from his parish and rents him an austere apartment. What follows is the reaction of each of his family members to the accusation of child abuse, and they range from horror and disgust to denial and disbelief.        

The Boston archdiocese settled most of these cases out of court rather than go to trial. Did that give an incentive to lowlife types to make more accusations? You be the judge. I have no doubt that many of these priests were probably guilty, but what about the lives and reputations that were shattered for those falsely accused? I highly recommend this book. -- Nancy S.