TESTIMONIALS & REFLECTIONS
Fred Hall Sr.
"A powerful and provocative story...a very enlightening history of the Church and its evolution. I pray it reaches the right people."
Normand Croteau
"Excellent book and very important story. Entertaining, suspenseful and well researched. The historical journey provided through the characters was very effective and gives real meaning to historical 'facts' we may have once learned, but forgotten, about the Church, Napoleon's war-mongering and the infamous Inquisition. The "Big Truth" about the treatment of women in the Church really hits home and is reflective of Pascal's words: "Plus que ca change, plus que c'est la meme chose."
Anonymous
"Started reading Paul's book and I am already in love with Madeleine and very upset at the Monsignor!"
Roger. P Michaud
"Loved it! A finely crafted blend of historical perspective woven into a captivating story of a woman’s struggle against the hierarchy of the Church. Pits conscience against concession to Papal authority in a well written story that brings the principal character, Madeleine, on a collision course with the realities of her time. Could not put this book down!!!"
Esther T. Turner
"You, Paul, are writing about something of importance to me. In the early 2000's when the extent of child abuse at the hands of clergy was being revealed, I was still identifying as a member of the Roman Catholic Church. It was not the child abuse by priests nor the mismanagement by church leaders that precipitated my exit.
The Pope acknowledged the need to expand the pool of people eligible to enter the priesthood. He spoke about allowing married men to be ordained. He also confirmed that there would be no change to the church's stance on women in the priesthood. Women are not allowed.
That was it. I had spent all my adult life encouraging women to become fully engaged in the world. I visited schools to inform them of jobs in manufacturing and in engineering. I mentored them where I worked.
I could not be a member any longer of an organization that excluded women from its most influential and prestigious positions. I left.
Thank you for writing the book that I have been waiting for."
Joseph Donohue
"I have read and very much enjoyed Madeleine's Inquisition. I could sum up my impressions in one word: MASTERFUL. But that would not do the work justice. So I have put together some reflections, which are attached. Even they are not adequate but they come from the heart."
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Click here to read Joseph's reflection.
Steve Minkowsky
"What a great book! I enjoyed reading every single page. Your book is an interesting blend of historic fact and and drama driven by colorful characters. I was particularly shocked by how badly the Catholic Church treated woman. What a change in church doctrine from its original creation. The torture scenes are vivid and a disgrace on many in the clergy gone mad for money and power.
Madeline Moreau, Marc Moreau and family come alive with your in depth character development. Their interactions during Napoleon's invasion of Russia and the Catholic Church's corruption and immorality towards woman are brutally honest and and well researched. The suffering of the French people is not easily forgotten. I also liked your symbolic ending. The goodness in some people demonstrates the enduring survival of humanity against all odds.
You should be very proud of all the documentation and writing you completed for this book. My compliments!"
Coleman Coyne
"Paul, just finished your excellent book which I enjoyed very much. (And thanks for the happy ending, I was fearing the worst). That bastard monsignor, the sweet revenge, I was a little reminded of Edmond Dantes, with the hurried nighttime carriage rides, rushing to the coast , and I learned a lot about history. You brought it all to life so well. Congratulations and thanks."
Lew & Liz Incze
Liz and I both read “Madeleine’s Inquisition” this summer while cruising the coast. We both found it very engaging and cleverly constructed. Historical novels were one of my favorite genres when I was young, but I later gave up on them as I got hungrier for facts and less tolerant of enduring too many words to get to them. I like good prose, but I like it to be efficient. One of the things I especially appreciated about your book is that it was easy to recognize within the story the ‘hard’ information and take-home lessons you were trying to convey. A number of years ago I read a biography of Jeanne d’Arc, but your book laid out so much more about the scope, motivations, dishonesty, and cruelty of the Catholic inquisitions. [Most of my previous readings were on the Spanish Inquisitions against Islam and the Spanish Jews, but those were different]. I also enjoyed the historical and cultural contexts offered by the story of Mark Moreau’s return from the Napoleonic madness in eastern Europe, as well as the adventures through Neapolitan Italy. I also appreciated your very pointed distinctions between criticism of the church (deserved) and faith in God (undeterred)…..message clear! The only real surprise to me was the estimate of the number of women ensnared by the Inquisition, which I recall you said was 100,000 or more (I can’t find the page, and maybe I am wrong). That is a much bigger number than I would have guessed. Finally: the ending. I was wondering what would happen (so, you see, you made me rediscover some of the fun of reading a novel). Frankly, I thought a happy ending might be a little too precious, but after everything the protagonists had been through, I actually felt good about it!
Liz is in charge of the next assignment for her women’s book club, and you’ll be pleased to know she selected your book. I bet it’ll be a hit.
In summary, and nice story and good enlightenment. Thanks for giving us this gift for our summer reading.