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The Book of Gomorrah and St. Peter Damian's Struggle Against Ecclesiastical Corruption Paperback – October 8, 2015

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 185 ratings
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"Alas, it is shameful to speak of it! It is shameful to relate such a disgusting scandal to sacred ears! But if the doctor fears the virus of the plague, who will apply the cauterization? If he is nauseated by those whom he is to cure, who will lead sick souls back to the state of health?”With these words, St. Peter Damian introduces the Book of Gomorrah, undoubtedly the most stirringly eloquent and impassioned denunciation of sexual perversion ever penned by a Catholic saint. Although it was written almost a thousand years ago, the Book of Gomorrah in many ways seems addressed to our own times, associating the phenomena of clerical homosexual behavior and pederasty, and endorsing the imprisonment of clergy who are a danger to youth.The Book of Gomorrah offers a scathing analysis of the evil of sodomy, while also expressing compassion for those who have fallen into such vice and the possibility of their redemption by the aid of divine grace. It explains the devastating effects of the vice both spiritually and psychologically, and warns that such behavior, particularly among the clergy, will bring down the wrath of God. It also urges the permanent defrocking of clerics who are habituated to homosexual behavior and endorses the permanent confinement those guilty of child sex abuse.This new translation by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is the most accurate and faithful available in English, and carries a foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara. It also includes a 10,000-word biographical introduction recounting Damian’s struggle against corruption in the Catholic Church, and a translator’s preface that breaks new scholarly ground and resolves old controversies about the text.
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  1. Print length
    184 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 8, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.46 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0996704205
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0996704205
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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"Hoffman has produced a highly readable translation of St Peter Damian's most famous work ... As the Church once again confronts the consequences of a collapse of clerical sexual discipline, we do well to read St. Peter's insistence on taking seriously the Church's early penitential tradition, and the Scriptural references which formed the foundation for this, as well as his zeal for the souls of both sinners and the victims of abuse. Hoffman has done a great service to his readers in preparing this edition." --Dr. Joseph Shaw, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at St. Benet's Hall, Oxford

"The Book of Gomorrah has recently been translated from the original Latin into English, with copious introductory material, by an erudite Catholic who is faithful to Christ and his Church: Matthew Cullinan Hoffman. I have accepted with pleasure the task of writing this brief presentation of a book which ... brings us to the realization that a thousand years ago sexual vices were being practiced by various sons of the Church that lamentably are present today and have been the occasion of scandal, discredit, and apostasy." --From the foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez

"With this translation, Matthew Hoffman gives a tremendous gift to the Church, at a time when she desperately needs to hear the undiluted truth, spoken with love, even at the risk of offending." --Fr. Shenan Boquet, President of Human Life International

"Peter Damian's Liber Gomorrhianus (Book of Gomorrah) tackles sexual immorality among Christians, especially clergy and religious, with shocking frankness. Yet his unwavering condemnation of sexual impurity appears alongside laments over the souls of those who have fallen into impurity and exhortations that they rise again. Scholars of ecclesiastical history ... will appreciate this readily accessible and faithful translation of the Liber Gomorrhianus." --Dr. Daniel Van Slyke, S.T.L., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology at Holy Apostles College

"At a time when there is a tragic effort in our societies on both sides of the ocean, to consider normal what it is against nature, Matthew Hoffman has to be strongly congratulated for making accessible the Liber Gomorrhianus of St. Peter Damian, an important Doctor of the Church ... The translation is clear and well-articulated, rendering the book in elegant English." --Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro, J.D., S.T.D., Executive Director of the Rome Office of Human Life International

About the Author

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman's award-winning articles have appeared hundreds of times in dozens of major newspapers, magazines, and news services, including the Wall Street Journal, London Sunday Times, Detroit News, LifeSite News, Catholic World Report, and the National Catholic Register. He was the principal Latin America correspondent with LifeSite News from 2007 to 2020, and oversaw the creation and initial direction of Notifam, LSN's Spanish and Portuguese language service. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he is also certified for proficiency in Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Matthew Cullinan Hoffman (October 8, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0996704205
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0996704205
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.46 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 185 ratings

About the author

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Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

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Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is an essayist and journalist whose award-winning articles have appeared hundreds of times in dozens of major newspapers, magazines, and news services, including the Wall Street Journal, London Sunday Times, Detroit News, Catholic World Report, Crisis, and the National Catholic Register. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he is certified for academic proficiency in Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
185 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A review person
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for understanding...
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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This book is a gem, because it provides a perspective on an issue, which the people of today only think belong to their time but points out quite clearly and completely the issue is a very old one.

I find it refreshing how the author and the translator of this word helps the modern reader to appreciate the complexity of the issue.

The footnotes are plenty and very informative.

Thank you very much for a job well done.
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Melekali
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
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Considering this is written by a saint (Peter Damien), I was expecting a great book. The bonus is this is a new translation and the translator wrote an introduction that really gives the reader an historical placement in the issue covered. So with that background, I found when I read the actual content of the saint, it made it much more easily comprehensible. The intro also discusses varying translations when there are disparities and what the most likely best translation is. This books puts in relief the abuse situation many Churches, particularly the Catholic Church is struggling with at present. It demonstrates that this is not a new problem because there are bad people in every generation. It's a refreshing book in that sense, putting the situation in an historical context to make better understood what ought to be done to fix it. I would highly recommend this particular version due to the introduction.
17 people found this helpful
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Barry Mader
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023
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Hard to absorb. Sin is never easy to accept. It is very sad to know some of our religious have fallen so far.
3 people found this helpful
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Louis Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars Reminds people the history repeats
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
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if you accept orthodox catholic teaching of the faith and spirituality this book with be of help dealing with the present day catholic church
2 people found this helpful
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John Sloan
5.0 out of 5 stars classic account Peter Damian is a saint for good reason
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
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Peter Damian was a major author and lecturer during the Investiture controversy and a great strength for Pope Gregory VII in the battle with the German Emperors over Investiture - simony- celibacy and chastity
2 people found this helpful
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T. Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars Eleventh century work - very applicable to today
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
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Absolutely outstanding work. Written in the 11th century by St. Peter Damian, a Cardinal Bishop, this is a warning to us in our own time. It is a strong condemnation of homosexual sex, a rebuke to those who practice it, a call to repentance, and a proclamation of mercy. The language is direct, plain, and unequivocal. It is noted that the book doesn't condemn those who have homosexual urges, but those who act upon them. The book is most strongly directed at those called to Holy Orders, insisting that they must remain pure, and that those who repent must do more extensive penance than the laity. He points out that some sins were condemned by God before the Ten Commandments - Sodom and Gomorrah and Onan, for example. The message is that the gift of life and the transmission of life are holy, and to defile them is to invite the wrath of God.
29 people found this helpful
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Justin Reany
5.0 out of 5 stars The more things change the more they stay the same!
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2020
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This book is frighteningly prescient! Written around the 11th century, St. Peter Damien attacks the corruption in the Church of his day (and our day). He elucidates on the common thread of sexual perversity, materialism, power, avarice all have together. The most striking and iconic focus of his critique is the widespread sexual perversity of the clergy, in particular homosexuality. His clarion call is that for all the multi-layers of corruption, the sin of sodomy (umbrella term for sexual perversion) must be addressed and rooted out first before the other sins can be addressed. The reforms of 11th century made sweeping, decisive, and forceful reforms, that for an epoch in Church history, ushered in great spiritual and hierarchical vivacity. I just hope the Church, in Her current crisis, can learn from from this book.
8 people found this helpful
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Peter Kemberling
5.0 out of 5 stars Repent And Return to God
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019
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Time to review our cultural definitions and those actions that offend God. Many current activities we do not consider sinful, or we minimize their significance. I'm in the process if changing my actions, and I prayerfully encourage each priest, monk, (religious or layperson) to review their actions based on the four clearly defined classifications of sodomy detailed by St Peter Damion (bishop and doctor). I pray for the grace to change our actions, ask for divine mercy, perform acts of penance and acts of fasting per the regulations of canon law. I pray for our church’s conversion. I prayerfully encourage each priest, monks (or religious) to remove themselves from ministry permanently or temporarily until they have restored their relationship with God through repentance.
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jesús Ángel Solórzano Telechea
5.0 out of 5 stars Homofobia
Reviewed in Spain on June 7, 2020
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Libro imprescindible para conocer las raíces de la homofobia
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An observer
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2015
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This book shows that homosexuality and other practices took place under the very eyes of the Roman Catholic Church and the cardinal fought very hard to outlaw those. I can now understand the double standards of the church despite the clear writings in the Bible
5 people found this helpful
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Paul McLoughlin
4.0 out of 5 stars Good.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2018
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Prompt delivery. Interesting book.
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