Overview

Sex and sin, and clerical child sexual abuse The 'God Debate' is given a shot in the arm with this new assault on a leading Church Father, St Augustine of Hippo. Vignettes from the author's church school where he faced abuse by Catholic priests, illustrate the work. He traces the roots of clerical child sexual abuse and suggests the Church's teaching on sex and sin might play a more influential role than has generally been recognised in mainstream social science. Lucid descriptions by a schoolteacher of RE lessons in faith schools today, will stir readers who suppose Christianity is a benign influence to think again. In 2021 the UK Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published a dossier, revealing that the church remains mired in safeguarding and abuse scandals. Yet nothing in literature explains this deviance credibly. The possible influence of Augustinian ideas on the church's continuing exploitation and neglect of children in its care, is examined in depth here. This book fills a gap in the shelf, lifting the lid on a story of abuse and indoctrination which continues to this day.

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9781838481636

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Reviews

...the resonance and relevance of the book is (sadly) almost universal. This is potentially of interest to anyone concerned with how we grow up, how we are shaped, and how the way that young people are drawn into whatever religious faith into which they are born, how this supposedly, avowedly benign process is enacted can have deeply malign effects on the individual and so on society in general. It tackles - head-on - an important and pressing subject... it's vital stuff. It's about how we safeguard young people, how we grow up, how we interact with others. Karl French, Literary Reviewer Awesome how far Augustine's tentacles of sinfulness reach. Alone among the world's civilised nations, Britons are allowed to physically punish children because unelected bishops sitting in the House of Lords advocate it. Carolyn Thompson, reader It takes us directly to a seemingly real situation with flesh and blood people. The menace in the good father's every action is tangible, and what isn't said adds to the sense of danger. Alan Wilkinson, Literary Reviewer

Author Information

Joseph Baker is a secular humanist and entrepreneur. The engineer behind some of London's top security installations, he regularly contributed articles to technical publications throughout a long career. In this illuminating book, his debut on retirement, he has found a provocative new voice.With the Vatican decrying critics of the church as 'Friends of the Devil, ' he thought back to his church schooldays. Here, he explores the shadow cast by Augustine's dark ideas. More at: https: //joebaker.me.uk

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