I have a book by Father James Martin

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I have a copy of ‘The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything’ by Fr. James Martin, SJ. I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but from what I have read or heard about this particular Jesuit, it doesn’t seem like he actually stands for Catholic teaching. I will admit I appreciate how he notices how modern media is both fascinated and repulsed by the Catholic Church, but I’ve found things that make me hesitant about reading his work. I’ve heard that he’s supportive of the LGBT community, which I can only assume means he supports same-sex marriage. The other day I was reading a blog post somewhere here on Catholic Answers about a woman complaining that she can’t preach during the liturgy anymore (why she was allowed to do that in the first place, I don’t know) and the post linked to Fr. James’ twitter feed. He said something along the lines, and I’m reinterpreting here, how sad it is that the Church isn’t feminist enough to let a woman preach during Mass. I kind of rolled my eyes at how he asked St. Mary Magdalene to pray for the Church because of this ‘outrage.’ Like, my brother, she wasn’t really a preacher either from my understanding.
My real question is, is the I mentioned above safe to read? Has anyone else read it and what are your thoughts?
 
While I have my own thoughts on Fr James Martin, he still is a priest in good standing.

Lately, he has really focused in on LGBT issues and activism, but his earlier books are less focused on that. I have My Life With the Saints, though I haven’t read it yet. Why not give his book a try? You might find some interesting spiritual insights, even if you don’t agree with everything he says.

I follow him on Facebook, and while I often strongly disagree with what he says, there are times where he has very poignant, insightful posts.
 
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Consider what would be charitable - to make assumptions and base judgment on what you hear, or actually review the person’s published viewpoints for yourself. Fr. Martin is controversial; nonetheless, he stays within the bounds of Church teaching - and he readily admits both, despite what people say about him.
 
There is nothing wrong with reading Fr James Martin. He has written about things other than LGBT matters; he has a book on saints for example. “The Jesuit Guide” is just a light read about Jesuits. It is not anything bad.

If you don’t agree with what he writes, that’s allowed. Plenty of Catholic priests and theologians write books I’m not fully in agreement with.

If you don’t want to read the book or don’t want to have it around, then just give it away to Goodwill or a book fair.
 
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I’d suggest the Waldstein translation of A Theology of the Body, Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence, and / or Guillerand’s The Prayer of the Presence of God. Or anything by Guardini or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. No question about the orthodoxy of those writers and their works are uniformly brilliant. Why not challenge yourself?
 
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Want solid 100% Catholic Jesuit teaching?

On earth: Fr. Mich Pacwa, S.J.

In the Lord’s realm: Servant of God Fr. John Hardon.
 
Completely forgot about him! Thank you for the reminder.

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Schall, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the sols of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

There is also the direct-speaking Fr. Joseph Fessio (still president of Ignatius Publishing?).
 
He’s been corrected a few times by Fr Longenecker and by Cardinal Sarah…
 
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We don’t always agree with each other here but still read each others’ posts so give it a read!
 
cmac2 said:
what are your thoughts?
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In one post you have written so much and very strongly against Fr. Martin. It might be a great book, but if you approach it with such contempt for the author, it will do you more harm than good.

Therefore do not read it. Do not dwell on it. Put it far from your mind and be at peace.
 
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cmac2 said:
My real question is, is the I mentioned above safe to read? Has anyone else read it and what are your thoughts?
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I can understand books being good, well written and interesting or boring and badly written or books I disagree with or ones I agree with, etc. But are there really “safe” and “unsafe” books? What would make a book unsafe to read?
 
Let charity reign in our hearts and words. If Fr. Martin has erred, if he commits a sin, allow his peers to admonish him - just as the rest of us are in need.

He can always use prayer, as he is also unconditionally loved.
 
Why on earth would you not read a book because of the views of the writer?
 
Thorolfr said:
But are there really “safe” and “unsafe” books? What would make a book unsafe to read?
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Only for the particular individual. If someone is truly going to be led astray by reading a book by a priest who is controversial for something else totally unrelated to the subject matter of the book, or if he is so bothered by the priest it would distract him from just reading the book, then he shouldn’t read it.

I’m quite confident I could read Fr. Martin’s entire catalog and not be “unsafe” in any way.
 
This an excellent book, dealing with a form of spirituality that is very well grounded. Just read it!
 
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