In the Closet of the Vatican

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Frédéric Martel

In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy (French: Sodoma: Enquête au cœur du Vatican) is a book by Frédéric Martel,[1] which was published in French by Éditions Robert Laffont in February 2019[2] as well as being simultaneously released in eight languages. The book is based upon the concordant testimonies from 41 cardinals, 52 bishops and 45 apostolic nuncios.[3] The author argues that an overwhelming majority of priests and bishops serving in the Vatican—including several prelates who have given anti-gay sex speeches—are gay, and either secretly have sex with men or repress their desires.[4][5][6][7][8]

The book is not primarily about child sexual abuse by priests but instead investigates the everyday dishonesty of Catholic priests who lie about their sexual orientation.[9]

Reception[edit]

In a long piece for New York, Andrew Sullivan wrote that "The Corruption of the Vatican's Gay Elite Has Been Exposed".[3] The book was praised by Irish writer Colm Tóibín in the London Review of Books,[10] the British historian Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch on The Times[11] and dozens of scholars and specialists. The book has been translated into more than twenty languages; it was a bestseller in a dozen countries and a New York Times bestseller.[12]

In 2019, Steve Bannon announced his intention of producing a movie based upon the book. This caused the resignation of Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke from the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, which is led by Bannon.[13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ In the closet of The Vatican: power, homosexuality, hypocrisy. Translated by Shaun Whiteside. London; New York: Bloomsbury Continuum. 2019. ISBN 9781472966155. LCCN 2019393197.
  2. ^ Sodoma: enquête au cœur du Vatican (in French). Paris: Éditions de Noyelles. 2019. ISBN 978-2-298-15110-7. EAN 9782298151107 BnF FRBNF45720349
  3. ^ a b Sullivan, Andrew (2019-02-22). "Andrew Sullivan: The Corruption of the Vatican's Gay Elite Has Been Exposed". New York.
  4. ^ Andrew Brown (3 Mar 2019). "In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy by Frédéric Martel – review". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Marion Bothorel (22 February 2019). "Ce qu'il faut retenir de Sodoma, le livre qui lève le voile sur l'homosexualité dans l'Église". France Info (in French). France Télévisions.
  6. ^ Cécile Chambraud (14–15 February 2019). "Sodoma explore la place de l'homosexualité au cœur du Vatican". Le Monde (in French).
  7. ^ Église et homosexualité: les lourds secrets du Vatican (audio) (in French). France Culture. 15 February 2019.
  8. ^ Stéphane Baillargeon (21 February 2019). ""Sodoma" documente l'homosexualité de la hiérarchie catholique". Le Devoir (in French).
  9. ^ Alison, James (23 February 2019). "Welcome to my world: Notes on the reception of Frédéric Martel's bombshell". ABC Religion & Ethics. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  10. ^ Tóibín, Colm (2021-01-21). "The Bergoglio Smile". London Review of Books. Vol. 43, no. 02. ISSN 0260-9592.
  11. ^ MacCulloch, Diarmaid. "In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy by Frédéric Martel review — the Catholic clergy who like to prey". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  12. ^ The book received international acclaims and hundreds of articles have been published about it. To see a list of the 100 most important article on In the Closet of the Vatican, see: [1]
  13. ^ Feder, J. Lester (2019-06-26). "Steve Bannon's Big Shot Friend In The Catholic Church Is Done With Steve Bannon". BuzzFeed News.