Playing God
American Catholic Bishops and The Far Right
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4.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
“A fascinating, investigative dive . . . both alarming and enlightening.” — Jane Mayer, author of Dark Money
The definitive account of how a group of American Catholic bishops are using “dark money” and allying with ultra-right evangelicals in an attempt to remake America . . .
Seasoned Catholic journalist and former war correspondent Mary Jo McConahay tells the story of how the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have become one of the most formidable and reactionary forces in America — by campaigning to alter democratic institutions under the guise of religious liberty, and allying with major right-wing contributors such as the Kochs.
In fact, many of the bishops—two-hundred and twenty-nine men, almost all white and beyond middle age—are such staunch opponents of Pope Francis that some US Catholics fear a schism with Rome.
The influence of these bishops can be traced in recent news stories—such was when they maneuvered to deny the Eucharist to pro-choice politicians like President Biden. With their lay partners, the bishops also help shepherd cases into the Supreme Court that change the law of the land, as with Roe v. Wade.
But as McConahay details, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In an investigation reminiscent of Jane Mayer’s Dark Money, she uncovers an ominous and long-term political strategy of attacking secular, liberal democracy by waging war on democratic norms and institutions.
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In this comprehensive and unsparing indictment, journalist McConahay (The Tango War) chronicles the rightward shift of America's Roman Catholic leadership. Among other "ultraconservative" Catholics responsible for that transformation, McConahay spotlights Heritage Foundation cofounder Paul Weyrich, whose belief that "moral issues should be at the center of politics" led him "to unite the political trajectory of Catholic bishops with that of leaders of evangelical Christians." She also profiles Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who wanted "nothing more" than to be a priest but dropped out of seminary over racist remarks, and Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, who bankrolled a lawsuit that overturned California's regulations regarding mandatory donor disclosures for tax-exempt charitable organizations. According to McConahay, "the belief that God desires Christians to rise to power in secular institutions so that their understanding of biblical law might govern the nation" has contributed to misogyny, Islamophobia, institutional racism, and ecological apathy among U.S. priests and bishops. Though McConahay is vague on how to right the ship, she builds a persuasive case enlivened by incisive character sketches and lucid analysis of political and religious trends. This is an intriguing and often distressing study of forces encroaching on the separation between church and state in America.
