The Red Hat

by Ralph McInerny

"A murder; an accusation of sexual misconduct in the future cardinal's past; a seminary rivalry; vaulting ambition; a power play in international finance; a virtual schism in the American hierarchy; another Avignon pope; two or three really nice people - Mclnerny's new novel will keep you in suspense until the next to the last page. A nifty parable and a lot of fun." - Michael Novak, American Enterprise Institute "An intimate knowledge of things Catholic, an exuberant orthodoxy, and an apparently unlimited gift of narrative imagination. Ralph Mclnerny has them all. Life is unfair, fortunately." - Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, Editor, First Things "Ralph Mclnerny's satirical probe into the sickness of our times is very funny. But beneath the comedy and the pathology there is an undercurrent of grief over the immense tragedy of the Church in North America and Europe. As the author presses down with his scalpel, he exposes the betrayal in all its banality, not for the purpose of mockery, but to point to something better that is still possible for us, to recall us to authentic hope. The central character, Archbishop Lannan, is a kind of episcopal "everyman " who is paralyzed by his weakness, ambition, and mind-numbing commitment to ecclesial politics. He stands at the crux of a dilemma upon which rests the future of the Church in the West. This is a book that should be read in every chancery, rectory, and university faculty - indeed, wherever men have grown cynical about the Bride of Christ." - Michael O'Brien, Author, Father Elijah "You need not be a Father Dowling to follow Ralph Mclnerny's trail through the agony of one bishop's lust for the Cardinal's hat with its built-in chicanery, and the ultimate test of his faith - fidelity to the Pope and martyrdom, or media acclaim and power from schismatic peers." - Msgr. George Kelly, Author, Battle for the

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Catholic, Historical Fiction

581 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Ralph Matthew McInerny was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. Some of his fiction has appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of Father Dowling. He was Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom has been on me for years to read this, and once again - she was right. It took me a good 150 pages to get interested in the book, but once I did, I finished all 580 in a week.

In addition to being laugh-out-loud funny several times, what is most striking about McInerny here is his confidence as a storyteller. He will slip in huge plot twists or pieces of information with absolutely no fanfare/warning. Several of the most important moments in the story are simply not shown; only the result is shown. The story is linear, but exposition and conversations from the past are peppered in with no introduction (exactly the way Rumer Godden does it, which I loved). He has jokes and exchanges that hinge on untranslated Latin phrases or unexplicated allusions to philosophers and theologians.

The characters and their struggles, their ambitions, their desires, are deeply authentic. The story itself is tremendous; it is an unpredictable, believable, entertaining, and ultimately consoling story. "Believable" almost feels too weak of a word - it is a mirror of the American Catholic Church, as well as being prophetic in several ways. I was a fool and a knave for not reading it sooner, and I'll probably reread it in a few months.

[Jude · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun for Catholics and Church watchers. The author is a friend of my extended family so I've heard stories about him and his work. Lots of good insights about Vatican II. Most valuable to me was the image of the US Church among the Vatican and world theologians. The plot is much fun, politics (both US and church), culture, scandal, a kidnapping, an anti-pope. It's a little like "Thornbirds" with theology substituting for sex. McInerny goes overboard with obscure theology (at least obscure to my generation who didn't grow up with a pre-Vatican II education) but it's worth it to wade through the obscure references and stay with it for the plot and characters. I also learned quite a bit about church history and would have learned more if I'd known more pre-Vatican II theology.

[Margaret Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good description of lots of familiar MN sites and a great view of the Church. I loved his depiction of ND as a center of Catholic orthodoxy in America. :-)

[Geo Forman · Rating 3 out of 5]

a serious novel by McInerny. (who woulda thought) And a good one about priestly ambition

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a timely read as we awaited the election of a new pope. A great story, well told, about ambitions, conscience, power plays, and holiness.