num_pages: 408
description: The Catholic Church, currently rocked by sexual scandal and cover-ups, is faced with a thorough reexamination of its handling of priestly sexual misconduct. Implicit in the monumental and daunting task will be the celibacy question and whether it's time at last to allow priests to marry. The novel CROOKED LINES reflects these long standing concerns. The story of one man's struggle and ultimate failure to live the celibate life is based on the experience of its author, Tom McGinley, a married Catholic priest.As the story opens, the desperate, confused protagonist, Fr. Tom O'Dwyer, has already set out on a journey along a circuitous path leading to sexual encounters and escapades, and ultimately to intensive therapy at opposite ends of the continental U.S Seeking out women of the night, he soon discovers the world of gay bars and baths. Much of the gay contact is random and fleeting. (Sexual abuse of innocent youngsters is not part of his vocabulary of choices.) Once he resolves with the aid of hypnosis therapy that he's bisexual, he begins dating. Soon marriage and raising kids becomes the staple of his existence.Still haunted by his past, Tom is confronted with problems and conflicts at work as a prison counselor. He lends support to a gay priest who is leaving the ministry. Through it all he never loses his eye for beautiful guys. His healing moment, his epiphany, occurs at a crowded church service, as all his pain of years wells up, running through his head like a lurid newsreel.
language: English
title: Crooked Lines
titlecomplete: Crooked Lines
publisher: Xlibris Corp