A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward

Ralph Martin with competency and impartiality presents his view on the dangers the Church faces today.The book is an honest, unequivocal, brave and firm stand against departure from the 2000 years old Church teaching.Dr Martin demonstrates how compromise in the teaching and practice developed in the XX century and still carries on.The book is full of references to recent social events, opinions of influential people etc. and it confronts them with the Bible and Sacred Tradition. The author avoids judging intentions of people who are the source of today's confusion but deals with the issue on its own merit.I hope more lay people and clergy listen to voices like this and the Gospel of Jesus is preached with no alteration or watering down.

Received this book a few days ago and am only 3 chapters in. These first chapters are worth buying it by themselves and I am sure the rest of book will continue to be excellent. Reading the honest account of where the Church is today made me feel physically sick however, the only way to overcome is to face up to where we are, repent and teach the truth of the gospel. Highly recommended.

Essential reading. Articulates lucidly what many Catholics know to be true. Ralph Martin is a much needed prophet of our time, helping us discern the truth.

A must read for any true and honest Catholic. All glory be to God, forever and ever, Amen.

This week I have been challenged by a teaching of the Catholic Church at a vulnerable, painful time in our family. I did not want to cause any friction so I was tempted by those powers-that-be to receive communion at the non-Catholic funeral of our murdered grandson. He had been living in the shelter at that denomination. Our whole family has been Baptized Catholic. I recently finished reading Ralph Martin’s book, “A Church in Crisis” and I knew in my heart that I had to follow his advice especially in chapter 12. So I first spent time in prayer. I begged God, “Lord God, you know that my life-line is Your Word and Eucharist. Yet right now I feel like they are holding my head under water. Give to me the grace to stand up for Your Truth , the grace to do what is right. I pray that you bring peace into this situation. God heard and answered my prayer.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the truth about why are churches are empty and are willing to do something about it. Be prepared to be angry, comforted and empowered.Caren