The Book of Gomorrah and St. Peter Damian’s Struggle Against Ecclesiastical Corruption
“Alas, it is shameful to speak of it! It is shameful to relate
such a disgusting scandal to sacred ears! But if the doctor
fears the virus of the plague, who will apply the
cauterization? If he is nauseated by those whom he is to cure,
who will lead sick souls back to the state of health?”
With these words, St. Peter Damian introduces the Book of
Gomorrah, an eloquent and impassioned denunciation of a
plague of ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity among the Catholic clergy. Although it
was written almost a thousand years ago, the Book of Gomorrah
in many ways seems addressed to our own times, associating the
phenomena of clerical ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity and pederasty, and endorsing
the imprisonment of clergy who are a danger to youth.
This new translation by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is the most
accurate and faithful available in English, and carries a
foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop
Emeritus of Guadalajara. It includes a 10,000-word biographical
introduction recounting Damian’s struggle against corruption in
the Catholic Church, and a translator’s preface that breaks new
scholarly ground and resolves old controversies about the text.
Paperback ISBN 978-0-9967042-0-5
E-Book ISBN 978-0-9967042-1-2
Praise for the Book of Gomorrah:
“… everything that this little book contains has been pleasing to our judgment, being as opposed to diabolical fire as is water.”
—from the preface by Pope St. Leo IX
Praise for the English translation by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman:
“The Book of Gomorrah has recently been translated from the original Latin into English, with copious introductory material, by
an erudite Catholic who is faithful to Christ and his Church: Matthew Cullinan Hoffman. I have accepted with pleasure the task of
writing this brief presentation of a book which, upon its reading, brings us to the realization that a thousand years ago sɛҳuąƖ
vices were being practiced by various sons of the Church that lamentably are present today and have been the occasion of
scandal, discredit, and apostasy.”
—from the Foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara
“Hoffman has produced a highly readable translation of St Peter Damian’s most famous work, with a scholarly and helpful
commentary placing it into its historical context. As the Church once again confronts the consequences of a collapse of
clerical sɛҳuąƖ discipline, we do well to read St Peter’s insistence on taking seriously the Church’s early penitential tradition,
and the Scriptural references which formed the foundation for this, as well as his zeal for the souls of both sinners and the
victims of abuse. Hoffman has done a great service to his readers in preparing this edition.”
—Dr. Joseph Shaw, Research Fellow at St. Benet’s Hall, Oxford
“At a time when there is a tragic effort in our societies on both sides of the ocean, to consider normal what it is against nature,
Matthew Hoffman has to be strongly congratulated for making accessible the Liber Gomorrhianus (Book of Gomorrah) of St.
Peter Damian, an important Doctor of the Church…The translation is clear and well-articulated, rendering the book in elegant
English.”
—Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro, J.D., S.T.D., Executive Director of the Rome Office of Human Life International
“Peter Damian’s Liber Gomorrhianus (Book of Gomorrah) tackles sɛҳuąƖ immorality among Christians, especially clergy and
religious, with shocking frankness. Yet his unwavering condemnation of sɛҳuąƖ impurity appears alongside laments over the
souls of those who have fallen into impurity and exhortations that they rise again. Scholars of ecclesiastical history and a more
general audience comprised of those who wonder how today’s struggles with sɛҳuąƖ purity may be illuminated by a preeminent
reformer of the Medieval period will appreciate this readily accessible and faithful translation of the Liber Gomorrhianus.”
—Dr. Daniel Van Slyke, S.T.L., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology at Holy Apostles College
“An excellent and accurate translation, and the most reliable English Version of the Liber Gomorrhianus of Saint Peter Damian
(1007-1072). The work of Matthew Hoffman in translating Damian’s from Latin into English shows on the technical side a deep
study and an intense commitment to this book and to the language of its author—who lived during the High Middle Ages—and
on the conceptual side the will to restore to the English speaking world a book that is a fundamental to the history of our
Church. Thanks to Matthew Hoffman we can listen to the voice of Peter Damian against sodomy through this masterpiece
that is the Book of Gomorrah.”
—Dr. Michela Ferri, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Holy Apostles College
“With this translation, Matthew Hoffman gives a tremendous gift to the Church, at a time when she desperately needs to hear the
undiluted truth, spoken with love, even at the risk of offending.”
—Fr. Shenan Boquet, President of Human Life International
Topic: New Translation of St. Peter Damians Book of Gomorrah (Read 2565 times)