The Empty Confessional

It was an interesting invitation. I received an e-mail from an author with a request to review his newest book if he sent it to me.

The author Tom Hogan,  had great credentials, had written two previous books, won a few awards, had written some screenplays that also took awards at film festivals and had lectured on genocide and the holocaust at Santa Clara University.  And the title of his newest book,  “The Empty Confessional” sounded interesting.

I agreed. I got the book. I read the book. I didn’t like it.

That is not to say Tom Hogan is not a terrific writer! The fact is, I couldn’t put the book down because he drew me in every chapter, sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes out of interest, sometimes out of anger, sometimes just yelling out loud that it’s a good thing it’s a novel, because there is so little truth in it.

The book focuses on a young catholic priest who believes, and in fact has some kind of proofs that more than one priest in the diocese of Pittsburgh, Pa., either is, or was a pedophiliac.  He’s angry, righteous, indignant, furious and all the other good things one should be when hearing about this disgusting crime.

But this priest is also 26 years old, had a few problems as a kid himself, not at the hands of priests or any other adult, but with other teenagers mad because he wouldn’t play football. And he’s an egotist, brought about no doubt by so many people telling him how wonderful he was. And priest though he might be, he doesn’t believe in following authority or doing the right thing.  He’s self-assured and knows he, and only he, can manage this problem the way it should be handled. He truly believes he, and he alone, is above the law and the rest of the world should be grateful.

That in itself is rather unrealistic.

Then there’s the company he keeps. I don’t know what it’s like in Pittsburgh, Pa, but in all the catholic dioceses I have been in around the country, I’ve never seen a bunch of young priests get together in casual clothes, in a bar on a frequent basis, with one nun also in street clothes but with a head covering identifying her as a nun on a frequent basis, swilling down a few drinks, using language most women would find offensive to say nothing of bullying, and solving the problems of the world. At 26, a priest a couple of years, he’s already the pastor of a church, and has a housekeeper plus another one for the regular’s days off, and that’s pretty much a dream from the past. Doesn’t he have work he has to do as a pastor for his parish?

The story line might be interesting, the writing excellent, but the facts the novel is based on in so many areas are so unrealistic it takes away from what would otherwise be a good read.

Why the name of the book, The Empty Confessional?  You can see it from the beginning; the arrogant punk of a priest isn’t following the rules he was ordained to follow, thinks he’s better that the authorities he promised to listen to, spends too much time energy and company keeping  thinking he’s more secular than cleric, and regularly goes to ‘confession’ to have his sins forgiven. It isn’t until close to the end that you see clearly, though it’s evident to any reader with a shred of intelligence from page 21, that he’s not very good at that either.

Liberals who don’t like to be realistic might like the story; readers who like a wealth of adjectives and good writing will appreciate the literary excellence of it. But for this reader,  it’s worth just about what I paid for it.

The Empty Confessional
Tom Hogan

Laughing Dog Publishing