Has anyone here read this book?

The subject looks appealing.  I have my usual questions about the source
though- the author is a philosophy professor at Mount St. Mary's College, which,
unless there is another college by the same name, is the one by the Getty
Museum in West Los Angeles.  Every Trad I've talked to about the place say
that's where you send your daughter if you want her to lose her faith.  Very
pro-feminist and even "gαy-tolerant."

But about the book:  one of the last reviews has an interesting observation,
regarding the second chapter, that perhaps a different "myth" would have been
a better choice instead, like "Catholicism is built on pagan mythology." I put the
paragraph in bold.  

Notice:  one of the myths is NOT that Vat.II contains heresies!  Or, that
Freemasons and satanists have worked their way into the highest offices, or,
that there is a crisis of pederasty and an international network of Sodomite
priests, or that the Newmass is a banal, on-the-spot fabrication drawn up by
one Freemason and 6 Protestant ministers.  The author seems unwilling to touch
those with a 10-meter fiberglass vaulting pole.

With all its failings, it still might be worth the read.  Any thoughts?  

My primary interest is to size up what's getting published that I can compare
to my own personal experience listening to what non-Catholics such as
Scientologists have to say about the Church when they think that nobody is
listening to them.  


Here is an mp3 link to an audio interview with the author - "Inside the Pages"


I've copied some of the Amazon data to describe it, if that helps. I used
Matthew's link to search for it and embedded the URL from that search in the
title, below (it contains "ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358905257&sr=8-1" which
seems to be the CI ID codes):




The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church:
Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism


[Hardcover]
Christopher Kaczor (Author)
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Book Description
Publication Date: October 8, 2012
The Roman Catholic Church has long been the target of suspicion and hostility. But how much of this is based on ignorance and prejudice and how much is the fruit of thoughtful consideration of the facts?

This book separates fact from fiction. Without excusing or justifying wrongdoing, author Christopher Kaczor clarifies official Catholic teaching and demonstrates that much popular opinion about Catholicism is based on misunderstanding and misinformation. He also provides robust and lucid arguments for Catholic belief and practice.

No one book can answer everyone's questions or objections about Catholicism, but this work examines seven of the most controversial and most common myths about the Catholic Church.


The Seven Myths:

~ The Church Opposes Science: The Myth of Catholic Irrationality

~ The Church Opposes Freedom and Happiness: The Myth of Catholic Indifference to Earthly Welfare

~ The Church Hates Women: The Myth of Catholic Misogyny

~ Indifferent to Love, the Church Banned Contraception: The Myth of Opposition between Love and Procreation

~ The Church Hates gαys: The Myth of Catholic "Homophobia"

~ The Church Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Because of Bigotry: The Myth That There Is No Rational Basis for Limiting Marriage to One Man and One Woman

~ Priestly Celibacy Caused the Crisis of sɛҳuąƖ Abuse of Minors: The Myth of Priestly Pedophilia


"As a convert to the Catholic faith, I can testify to the timeliness of Seven Big Myths. Kaczor clears up damaging misconceptions about the Church common among both Catholics and non-Catholics who have been deluged with anti-Catholic propaganda. The book is not only an engaging read, but a splendid conversational resource."
J. Budziszewski, Author, What We Can't Not Know: A Guide

"In this galvanizing book, Prof. Christopher Kaczor demolishes with calm, steady, remorseless logic seven of today's most toxic prejudices against the Faith. Every seminary, every RCIA program, every parish effort in continuing education should make The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church required reading."
Ronald K Tacelli, SJ, Author, Handbook of Catholic Apologetics

"Mythology is alive and well! Pagan gods like Zeus, Osiris, and Thor may have passed from the scene, but people today constantly fall for myths about the Catholic Church. Whether it's the idea that the Church is anti-science, anti-women, anti-sex, or what have you, people can't resist a juicy myth about the Catholic Church. That's what makes Dr. Chrisopher Kaczor's book so timely. He cuts through the myth to expose the truth."
Jimmy Akin, Author, The Fathers Know Best

"Dr. Christopher Kaczor is a radio interviewer's dream: concise, wise, and respectful even (perhaps especially?) to hostile callers. The book you now hold displays these qualities in an even more broad and engaging way. The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church combats the standard errors about Catholicism (so often flung with anger) with nary a hint of combativeness. Indeed, Kaczor loves his enemy. This book is myth-busting at its best about the things that matter most. Listen up. He knows what he's talking about - and so will you."
Patrick Coffin, Host, Catholic Answers Live


Editorial Reviews
Review
"All of this book is full of clarity and charity, but two chapters are masterpieces, each worth ten times the price of the whole book. The chapter on contraception is the most simple, commonsensical, winsome and persuasive I have ever seen. It could have been written only by a very good and wise husband and father. The chapter on same-sex marriage has the clearest and the completest logic I have ever read on the subject." --Peter Kreeft, Boston College

"In my own pilgrimage back to the Catholic Church was the growing realization, as a consequence of study and reflection, that much of what I had believed about the Church, its doctrines, and its practices was mistaken. This is why I find Professor Kaczor's book to be so important. It will not only equip Catholics to address the Church's critics, it will also help some outside the Church to overcome obstacles that have prevented many of them from seriously considering Catholicism." ----Francis J. Beckwith, Professor of Philosophy, Baylor University

"Christopher Kaczor is one of our finest young Catholic philosophers. In The Seven Big Myths of the Catholic Church, he shows that he is also one of our finest defenders of the Catholic faith. Essential reading for the new evangelization." ----Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles


Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Why you shouldn't hate the Catholic Church October 19, 2012
By Lover_of_Truth
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The opening quote from Fulton Sheen best summarizes this book: "There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church." Much of what the culture-at-large thinks is true regarding the Catholic Church, its doctrines, and its practices is mistaken! With great clarity and charity, Kaczor gives common sense explanations that cut through some of the most controversial myths about the Church and exposes the truth. A must-read for all those looking for the truth about the problems plaguing our culture.
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful clarifications of the Church's most misunderstood teachings November 6, 2012
By Brandon Vogt TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Over the last few years, I've had many discussions with Protestants, Mormons, atheists, and agnostics. If there's one thing they all share in common, it's a profound confusion about what the Catholic Church actually teaches. Venerable Fulton Sheen was right: "There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church."

Dr. Christopher Kaczor agrees, and in his new book The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism (Ignatius Press, hardcover, 164 pages) he clears up seven of the biggest misunderstandings. The chosen myths include:

- The Church opposes science
- The Church opposes freedom and happiness
- The Church hates women
- The Church is indifferent to love because she rejects contraception
- The Church hates gαys
- The Church opposes same-sex marriage for irrational reasons
- The Church's abuse crisis was due to priestly celibacy

In each chapter, Kaczor untwists the objection by combining Church teaching with historical, psychological, and social data. For example, when proving that the Church supports science, he provides several excerpts from papal teachings that hold reason and research in high regard. Even more, he highlights many great scientists who were either Catholic or educated in Catholic institutions. Finally, he explains how the Catholic Church is one of the biggest proponents of science today through her astronomy labs, research funding, and universities. He deals with controversial subjects, like the Galileo case, but shows how these outliers fit into a much larger, pro-science narrative.

Besides the chapter on science, Kaczor's chapters on contraception and ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity are especially sharp. I agree with Dr. Peter Kreeft who says, "The chapter on contraception is the most simple, commonsensical, winsome, and persuasive I have ever seen...The chapter on same-sex marriage has the clearest and the completest logic I have ever read on the subject." If you're looking for straightforward, rational explanations for why the Church opposes both contraception and same-sex marriage, these will help.

My only critique surrounds the second chapter, which deals with the myth that says Catholicism opposes freedom and happiness. The chapter stuck out to me both for its length and its topic. The chapter is twice as long as some of the others, and it addresses an objection which, in my experience, is uncommon among non-Catholics. Like all the others, the chapter is convincing and well-written but I wonder whether another "myth" could have been substituted, perhaps "Catholicism is built on pagan mythology."

In a religiously illiterate world, evangelization is about clarification as much as proclamation. That makes Dr. Kaczor's Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church a real winner. It's a valuable tool for the New Evangelization and will help clear away the biggest roadblocks people have to the Catholic Church.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff! October 27, 2012
By A. Best
Format:Hardcover
"Clarity and charity" really sums up the quality of Kaczor's defense. The chapters on contraception and ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ "marriage" are invaluable. The dispelling of the myths is well done, and he provides solid explanations for every one of them. He is correct on all counts.
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for only 12 bucks it might be a good read.  And then you could add your review to Amazon's website.  If it's not a good book you'll save others from wasting money, if it's good you'll be doing the author a favor.

It's shame we don't have a book review sub-forum.

Marsha

Neil, did you ever read this book?  If so, what did you think of it?

Marsha

The author forgot a few myths:

The Mess of Paul the Sick is the Ordinary Rite.

Praying with heretics and pagans is a God-honoring way to 'dialogue' with them.

Heathen people who pray to trees, animals or pieces of cement when the Truth of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is available to them can still go to Heaven and enjoy the Beatific Vision of a God they know nothing about.

Freemasons can be Catholics, even clergy, and their association with wickedness is of no consequence to them before Almighty God.

There are many more, but those would make that book at least worth glancing at.

Notice that the 'myths' he says are so prevalent today have been addressed and refuted many times, especially within the last century. None of these ideas would be taken seriously by anyone who has even the least good will toward the Church.

Getting into stupid debates and 'we're right and I can PROVE IT!!!' diatribes is the domain of proof-texting Protestants. Roman Catholics don't need to explain the Church's continued survival;  civilization and society exist BECAUSE of Holy Church, not the other way around.

St. Anthony of Padua, hammer of heretics, terror of Hell, pray for us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.