"When Lord Acton said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, he had the Church in mind. The story of William O'Connell, Cardinal Archbishop of Boston, is a case study in just how far that corruption can go. Those who are familiar with the scandal he created would not be surprised at more recent scandals. The difference today, one hopes, at least prevents the ambition and arrogance from being buried in secrecy as the story of William O'Connell was." —Andrew M. Greeley, priest, sociologist, author
"A well-written account of the ambitious rise to power of William Henry Cardinal O'Connell of Boston. The documents used for this story read like a bad script for a soap opera villain, but unfortunately recount the machinations of one of the most powerful churchmen in the history of the United States." —Gerald P. Fogarty, S.J., professor of religious studies and history at the University of Virginia
"A biography of ideas and ideological struggles. Slawson outlines the history, but what most intrigued me is its account of O’Connell’s role in church politics." —Commonweal
"Slawson's mining of Vatican sources . . . delineate[s] a depressingly full picture of O'Connell's use of money and playing of the Roman card to win Vatican support." —The Catholic Historical Review
"Slawson makes extensive use of archival material, is adept at finding confirmatory evidence, and never goes beyond what can be asserted based on the written record. The work is an example of dispassionate scholarship." —American Catholic Studies
Based on a vast array of archival holdings, including the secret archives of the Vatican, this colorful and fascinating story recounts Cardinal William Henry O'Connell's ambitious grasp for power and his arrogant misuse of the trappings of the office. Appointed in 1895 to a minor post in the Catholic church in Rome, Father William O’Connell of Boston built a Vatican power base that made him a bishop, archbishop, and cardinal. His arrogant exploitation of his position drew the wrath of U.S. bishops—who were twice unsuccessful in having him removed from office. Believing that his high position exempted him from the rules of morality, O'Connell was utterly unscrupulous. He discovered multiple ways to turn a profit from his position and by 1923 had amassed a fortune. O’Connell brought further scandal upon his position when he turned a blind eye to the secret marriages of two priests who lived with him, one of them his nephew. When the marriages were discovered, the cardinal brazenly defended his nephew at the expense of the other offender. Had the Cardinal not worn the scarlet that marked him as a prince of the church, he may have gone to the grave a disgraced clergyman. However, his rank, his ability to maintain appearances, and his potent Vatican allies saved him from such a fate. This story serves as a mirror against which to view current affairs in both the Catholic church and the United States.
Douglas J. Slawson is an author, educator, and lecturer. His book, The Department of Education Battle: 1918–1932, won the Cushwa Prize awarded by the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame. He is also author of The Foundation and First Decade of the National Catholic Welfare Council and coauthor of Church and Slave in Perry County, Missouri: 1818–1865. His articles have appeared in journals such as The Americas, the Catholic Historical Review, The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History, and Lo Straniero. He earned a doctorate in history from The Catholic University of America and a master of divinity from De Andreis Institute of Theology, and he is currently a professor of history at National University in San Diego. He lives in San Diego.
Biography, Religion & Theology
248 pages, Trade Paper, 6 x 9
2 B/W Photos
Distribution Rights: US & CA
$17.95 (CAN $22.95)
9780978785505 (0978785509) Pub Date: April 2007
Cobalt Productions