Persecuted from Within

Many Catholics have either left the Church or been scandalized by the errors and immorality that are rampant among her clergy. Moreover, we've watched aghast as faithful Catholics are punished without just cause, sometimes even for doing good. In this gripping book, the authors posit that the situation has become so absurd that the only people ever punished by the Church anymore are those least deserving. The combination of these two excesses has shaken the faith of millions. These fascinating pages aren't another diatribe, however. You will be heartened amid current scandals and see how they are hardly unprecedented or unpredicted. Rather, they are a recurring feature of life in the Church throughout history and are even part of the divine plan. Most significantly, you will be able to clearly make sense out of and discover solutions to our present plight. You will learn about: The one place that the worst persecutions come from (Get ready!) Two false options in responding to the crisis of persecution in the Church Three fundamental features we learn from our Lord in persecution (Can you guess?) Practical ways that you can respond with in sharing the truth Two things that the saints compel us to do when experiencing persecution Achievable means to embolden your faith and remain obedient while correcting error You will see how ten of the greatest Catholics in history--the saints--suffered from undeserved persecution by the hierarchy and betrayal by clergy, and how this suffering was part of their sanctification and can serve as a heroic example to us today. You will be enthralled by the valor of priests from the earliest days of the Church to lay people from Saints Joan of Arc to Thomas More, and religious such as Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Alphonsus Liguori, to modern day examples like St. Padre Pio and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. As you travel with them across twenty centuries and four continents, your devotion will increase, you will see the wisdom of the divine plan, and be encouraged to defend the Church through this present hour of darkness. Additionally, you will find a thorough and orthodox explanation of doctrine on Church authority, fraternal correction, and the virtue of obedience, as well as a practical plan to redeem this shameful chapter in Church history. This book stands as a valuable and lasting resource for pastors, catechists, and those who seek to "counsel the doubtful" and "comfort the afflicted."