A Catholic priest takes Church law into his own hands.
“Absolution is a superbly crafted novel, replete with memorable characters, psychological insights, ecclesiastical dilemmas, and a riveting story played out within the context of priestly vows and human emotions. Very highly recommended reading, Absolution is as entertaining as is thoughtful and thought-provoking.” --Midwest Book Review “I enjoyed Midden’s way with language. His prose is confident and at times picturesque. The book covers a lot of territory as it addresses issues of love, marriage, family, relationships, celibacy in the Catholic church, honesty, integrity, and forgiveness. All in all . . . a skillfully told tale. Marriage and family gain a new allure when they are portrayed as forbidden fruit. Radko and Ursula will live with readers long after they have turned the last page.” —Violet Nesoldy, Blogcritics.org “Author Midden [is] a psychologist, with years of experience in counseling priests. That experience shows in his insights into the clerical way of thinking, to say nothing of church politics. Best of all, Midden writes well, showing the storytelling power of the simple declarative sentence. That writing will keep you moving through this slowly paced but fascinating story.” —Henry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch “This priest found "Absolution" most intriguing . . . A lot of twists and turns. Midden has done his homework. His citing of canon law is accurate, and his understanding of how the Church works is impeccable.” —Fr. Dennis Mercieri “I enjoyed Midden’s way with language. His prose is confident and at times picturesque. The book covers a lot of territory as it addresses issues of love, marriage, family, relationships, celibacy in the Catholic church, honesty, integrity, and forgiveness. All in all . . . a skillfully told tale. Marriage and family gain a new allure when they are portrayed as forbidden fruit. Radko and Ursula will live with readers long after they have turned the last page.”
—Violet Nesoldy, Blogcritics.org |
Enter a life of duplicity lived near the heart of religious power: Radko Slopovich is a priest promised to celibacy but living with his wife and children. A man with ambition as well as love for his family, his conflicting passions are ignited and challenged when a highly placed Vatican official and a close personal friend ensnare him in a plot to change the Church and advance his career. Seduced by power and torn between his family and his holy vocation, Radko must choose what is real and important in his life. A majestic ending brings together the drama and power that are so distinctive of Catholicism and the humanity of its members, both lay and clerical.
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