He did indeed say the acerbic, insightful, original, candid and
frequently seemingly outrageous things in this long-awaited book. For
this is one of America's top theologians come down from the ivory tower
of scholarship to deal with the moral and ecclesiastical problems of
everyday life in the crisp, colorful, and jargon-free style that have
made John L. McKenzie one of the most widely read and highly regarded
Catholic writers of our day. One of the few things Father McKenzie is
not famous for is pulling his punches. When he talks about the problems
of evil in modern life his indictments shy away from no sacred cows. His
outspoken criticism of authority in the church, of ecclesiastical
repression of personal and academic freedom have not necessarily made
him friends in high places but they have influenced many. His tremendous
depth of scriptural knowledge illuminates all his writing without ever
slipping over to the pedantic. Best of all, his passionate concern for
people and for the authentic message of the Gospels, is converted and
focused onto the major moral problems which openly or covertly subvert
the quality of contemporary Christian life--as it is lived very much in
this world.