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Lost Shepherd: How Pope Francis is Misleading His Flock
Faithful Catholics are beginning to realize it’s not their imagination. Pope Francis has led them on a journey from joy to unease to alarm and even a sense of betrayal. They can no longer pretend that he represents merely a change of emphasis in papal teaching. Assessing the confusion sown by this pontificate, Lost Shepherd explains what’s at stake, what’s not at stake, and how loyal believers should respond.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2018
56 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Philip F. Lawler
20 books8 followersPhil Lawler is the editor of Catholic World News (CWN), the first English-language Catholic news service operating on the internet, which he founded in 1995. CWN provides daily headline news coverage for the Catholic Culture site, where Phil Lawler also offers regular analysis and commentary.
Born and raised in the Boston area, Phil attended Harvard College and did graduate work in political philosophy at the University of Chicago before entering a career in journalism. He has previously served as Director of Studies for the Heritage Foundation, as editor of Crisis magazine, and as editor of the international monthly magazine Catholic World Report.
His essays, book reviews, and editorial columns have appeared in over 100 newspapers around the United States and abroad. A pro-life activist and veteran of many political campaigns, Phil was himself a candidate for the US Senate in 2000, running against the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Born and raised in the Boston area, Phil attended Harvard College and did graduate work in political philosophy at the University of Chicago before entering a career in journalism. He has previously served as Director of Studies for the Heritage Foundation, as editor of Crisis magazine, and as editor of the international monthly magazine Catholic World Report.
His essays, book reviews, and editorial columns have appeared in over 100 newspapers around the United States and abroad. A pro-life activist and veteran of many political campaigns, Phil was himself a candidate for the US Senate in 2000, running against the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 10, 2018
This is a book written by necessity. Since March 2013, I kept reading story after story about Pope Francis wondering is the problem me, or what is Pope Francis up to? Phil Lawler has written a book-long answer to that question. The book is a series of journalistic episodes followed by analysis, and progressively reaching the conclusion that Pope Francis has deliberately allowed confusion to take root within the Church. The accusation is not that Pope Francis is a heretic, but that he has left so much in a state of confusion, that it has allowed contradictory claims to be made about " what the Church teaches". This cannot be a good thing. The book is not an "attack" on the Pope, although it surely be reviewed as such. It is the observation the Pope is not creating the clarity that as the vicar of Christ he has the unique responsibility for. I pray for light to lift the fog.
April 3, 2018
The book is disturbing. I have long considered Pope Francis a "useful idiot" of the left. After reading the book, I have concluded that the reality is more sinister. It appears that Francis is the Barack Obama of the Catholic Church, on a mission to fundamentally transform it, and to make the transformation permanent. Gone are the days when a Catholic could confidently rely upon and internalize the pronouncements of a pope, as was the case of Pope St. John Paul II. Francis couldn't hold a candle to JPII in more ways than one. I console myself with the belief that the Catholic Church has survived bad popes before; but that belief doesn't make the present any more pleasant. I feel like I'm experiencing a real life church-oriented Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and hoping George Smiley shows up sometime soon.
Lawler has made an essential start at documenting what is going on in the Catholic Church. I can only hope that he provokes the necessary reaction to it.
Lawler has made an essential start at documenting what is going on in the Catholic Church. I can only hope that he provokes the necessary reaction to it.
November 7, 2022
I'm from a sympathetic audience for this book, at least in part. When it comes to the current Pontiff's crackdown 2020 on the Traditional Latin Mass, the buildup to that can be charted in this 2018 study. It focuses an enormous amount on the debate over the debate in Amoris Laetitia about enabling remarried Catholics, out of favor in the conservative view as flagrant adulterers, to seek a welcome back to the Eucharist. I am in a very small dissenting overlap in that I favor both the TLM and AL, so my outlier position is likely almost uncharted. Yet, if Lawlor, similar to other right-leaning critics of Pope Francis, had taken time to hear out those like me whom he dismissed as a tiny faction of those taking this seriously and in pastoral consultation and spiritual discernment, the charity could have balanced some of his relentless rigor. And contrary to his glib assumptions that streamlined annulment processes will rubber-stamp certificates of nullity of past irregular 'marriages' judged as lacking the mature judgement entered into by past spouses, if Lawler had interviewed everyday Catholics in this critique of the what ails this institution, rather than a reliance on Vatican sources in his survey of a collapsing Church in the Western (and Latin American) world, it'd have benefited readers who might not act or think as predictably as observers seem to conclude. Get beyond polls and Roman scuttlebutt and listen to us.
September 18, 2018
Faithful, sober, unflinching, a must read
A faithful, sober, unflinching analysis of a very troubled and troubling papacy. Anyone looking for a fair assessment of Francis’ papacy and what to do about it would do well to read it.
A faithful, sober, unflinching analysis of a very troubled and troubling papacy. Anyone looking for a fair assessment of Francis’ papacy and what to do about it would do well to read it.
August 27, 2018
Philip Lawlor. in "Lost Shepherd ",reinforces "Dictator Pope "
It is clear to the point fact based ,says what is happening ,and what could happen ?For the good or confusion .We must pray.
It is clear to the point fact based ,says what is happening ,and what could happen ?For the good or confusion .We must pray.
March 14, 2018
Excellent summary
A excellent remainder of all that has happened in this popes tenure. As much as I follow news items, with overlapping issues it is so good to read the complete story in one place.
Mr. Lawler was in a position to know and knew enough about previous popes to compare what should be happening in place of what is happening now.
I love his final recommendations for us, the laity, to continue to pray for the pope. Failure is not in God's plan.
A excellent remainder of all that has happened in this popes tenure. As much as I follow news items, with overlapping issues it is so good to read the complete story in one place.
Mr. Lawler was in a position to know and knew enough about previous popes to compare what should be happening in place of what is happening now.
I love his final recommendations for us, the laity, to continue to pray for the pope. Failure is not in God's plan.
November 23, 2018
The title is overly provocative (I guess that helps to sell books) but there is much to commend this volume. It serves as a review of Pope Francis's pontificate up to about mid-2017. Much was familiar to me as I follow Catholic news semi-closely, although there were some stories and angles new to me.
Much has to do with the pope's personal and governing style, which if all or most of the insider stuff is true, is certainly disappointing and disturbing, but not necessarily a cause of "misleading." Areas like promised reforms can certainly be debated. And his turns of phrase and pet causes are not what I would like to hear and see, but it his style.
Also, Lawler opines, speculates, and asks questions based on looking at Francis's words and actions through a critical lens. That's fine, but must be taken with a grain of salt. As a veteran Vatican watcher, I do take his views seriously, though, and if even half of what he presents is true, it is a matter of deep concern.
What is unequivocally disturbing, though, is the confusion caused by public statements and documents the Holy Father has written. The faithful should be able to look to the pope for clarity, but this has been sadly missing from this pontificate from early on. Lawler spends a lot of time on the controversy surrounding "Amoris Laetitia" and the subsequent dubia. Time well spent since it highlights the pope's intransigence and apparent active desire to not lend clarification.
Possibly more disturbing, with potential greater long-term impact. is the pope's making cardinals only of those ideologically conforming to his view. Currently, fifty-nine voting cardinals have been made by Francis (out of 124 total electors). It won't be long before his appointees will be the majority. Any chance to temper or reverse certain disconcerting trends may soon be lost -- at least with the next pope.
All that being said, Lawler does give credit where its due. He does attempt some balance but definitely sees more harm than good in this papacy. Nevertheless, he does not call for resignation or some other radical action. He calls for prayer for the pope that he "will lead the Church toward greater unity." (194) He also recommends prayers for Francis's successor. Both worthy endeavors.
I would have titled the book: "Shaky Shepherd: How Pope Francis in Confusing His Flock."
Much has to do with the pope's personal and governing style, which if all or most of the insider stuff is true, is certainly disappointing and disturbing, but not necessarily a cause of "misleading." Areas like promised reforms can certainly be debated. And his turns of phrase and pet causes are not what I would like to hear and see, but it his style.
Also, Lawler opines, speculates, and asks questions based on looking at Francis's words and actions through a critical lens. That's fine, but must be taken with a grain of salt. As a veteran Vatican watcher, I do take his views seriously, though, and if even half of what he presents is true, it is a matter of deep concern.
What is unequivocally disturbing, though, is the confusion caused by public statements and documents the Holy Father has written. The faithful should be able to look to the pope for clarity, but this has been sadly missing from this pontificate from early on. Lawler spends a lot of time on the controversy surrounding "Amoris Laetitia" and the subsequent dubia. Time well spent since it highlights the pope's intransigence and apparent active desire to not lend clarification.
Possibly more disturbing, with potential greater long-term impact. is the pope's making cardinals only of those ideologically conforming to his view. Currently, fifty-nine voting cardinals have been made by Francis (out of 124 total electors). It won't be long before his appointees will be the majority. Any chance to temper or reverse certain disconcerting trends may soon be lost -- at least with the next pope.
All that being said, Lawler does give credit where its due. He does attempt some balance but definitely sees more harm than good in this papacy. Nevertheless, he does not call for resignation or some other radical action. He calls for prayer for the pope that he "will lead the Church toward greater unity." (194) He also recommends prayers for Francis's successor. Both worthy endeavors.
I would have titled the book: "Shaky Shepherd: How Pope Francis in Confusing His Flock."
September 30, 2021
I keď ma trochu odrádzal názov, knihu som si nakoniec prečítal kvôli prvej vete v jej popise, kde sa píše, že autor ju napísal pre tých, pre ktorých sa stal pápež František ťažko zrozumiteľným. Do tejto kategórie ľudí totiž zapadám aj ja.
Na začiatku sa mi kniha dosť páčila. Páčil sa mi český predhovor, v podstate aj úvod knihy a prvé kapitoly, ktoré hovorili o odstúpení Benedikta a nástupe Františka, keďže v podstate pomerne verne popisovali aj moje pocity a fakty tak, ako ich poznám. Dobré boli aj kapitoly o Amoris Laetitia, kde autor pomerne jasne ukázal, že problém tejto exhortácie je v tom, že namiesto toho, aby v časoch, keď je na manželstvo vyvíjaný obrovský tlak ukázalo jeho zmysel a krásu v novom, príťažlivom svetle aj pre dnešný svet, robí značný opak, keďže kvôli jednej poznámke pod čiarou strháva celú diskusiu niekam inam- k otázke, či rozvedení a znovu zosobášení môžu pristupovať k prijímaniu. Tým táto exhortácia, ktorá je mimochodom najdlhším pápežským dokumentom v histórii, vlastne namiesto novej sily prináša katolíkom len ďalšie rozdelenie a ako píše autor, namiesto jasnosti, ktorú má pápež prinášať, len zahmlenie.
Nové pre mňa bolo aj čítanie o snahách zmanipulovať synodu o rodine o čom som mal nejaké hmlisté spomienky, no vidieť ich na jednom mieste všetky tieto skutočnosti ukázalo v novej sile. Podobne pôsobili aj informácie o neochote pápeža Františka odpovedať na otázky, ktoré Amoris Laetitia vyvolala.
Na druhej strane, za slabé miesta knihy považujem autorovu snahu vytvárať psychologický profil pápeža Františka (príliš veľa dohadov a príliš málo faktov), priam nekritický prístup k dubiám (v dvoch odsekoch povedať, že boli fajn reakciou ak ich značná časť sveta považuje za neprimerané), či opis všemožných intríg v kúrii, či vo Vatikáne v ktorých sa však bežný čitateľ nemá šancu zorientovať a kriticky vyhodnotiť, či sú skutočne pravdivé. U nekritického čitateľa tak môžu zbytočne vyvolávať ešte väčšie pobúrenie nad Františkovým pontifikátom ako by bolo namieste, u príliš kritického zas odmietnutie celej knihy ako konšpiračnej teórie. Z tohto pohľadu tam možno aj tretina knihy vôbec nemusela byť.
Posledná poznámka- osobne som očakával väčšiu analýzu toho, ako sa má zachovať katolík v situácii, keď sa mu nezdá konanie pápeža. To je otázka, ktorú v sebe riešim a na ktorú mi táto kniha nedala úplne jasnú odpoveď.
Na začiatku sa mi kniha dosť páčila. Páčil sa mi český predhovor, v podstate aj úvod knihy a prvé kapitoly, ktoré hovorili o odstúpení Benedikta a nástupe Františka, keďže v podstate pomerne verne popisovali aj moje pocity a fakty tak, ako ich poznám. Dobré boli aj kapitoly o Amoris Laetitia, kde autor pomerne jasne ukázal, že problém tejto exhortácie je v tom, že namiesto toho, aby v časoch, keď je na manželstvo vyvíjaný obrovský tlak ukázalo jeho zmysel a krásu v novom, príťažlivom svetle aj pre dnešný svet, robí značný opak, keďže kvôli jednej poznámke pod čiarou strháva celú diskusiu niekam inam- k otázke, či rozvedení a znovu zosobášení môžu pristupovať k prijímaniu. Tým táto exhortácia, ktorá je mimochodom najdlhším pápežským dokumentom v histórii, vlastne namiesto novej sily prináša katolíkom len ďalšie rozdelenie a ako píše autor, namiesto jasnosti, ktorú má pápež prinášať, len zahmlenie.
Nové pre mňa bolo aj čítanie o snahách zmanipulovať synodu o rodine o čom som mal nejaké hmlisté spomienky, no vidieť ich na jednom mieste všetky tieto skutočnosti ukázalo v novej sile. Podobne pôsobili aj informácie o neochote pápeža Františka odpovedať na otázky, ktoré Amoris Laetitia vyvolala.
Na druhej strane, za slabé miesta knihy považujem autorovu snahu vytvárať psychologický profil pápeža Františka (príliš veľa dohadov a príliš málo faktov), priam nekritický prístup k dubiám (v dvoch odsekoch povedať, že boli fajn reakciou ak ich značná časť sveta považuje za neprimerané), či opis všemožných intríg v kúrii, či vo Vatikáne v ktorých sa však bežný čitateľ nemá šancu zorientovať a kriticky vyhodnotiť, či sú skutočne pravdivé. U nekritického čitateľa tak môžu zbytočne vyvolávať ešte väčšie pobúrenie nad Františkovým pontifikátom ako by bolo namieste, u príliš kritického zas odmietnutie celej knihy ako konšpiračnej teórie. Z tohto pohľadu tam možno aj tretina knihy vôbec nemusela byť.
Posledná poznámka- osobne som očakával väčšiu analýzu toho, ako sa má zachovať katolík v situácii, keď sa mu nezdá konanie pápeža. To je otázka, ktorú v sebe riešim a na ktorú mi táto kniha nedala úplne jasnú odpoveď.
March 13, 2019
Beginning on page x of the Introduction the author starts presenting his evidence that
Francis is not “merely offering a novel interpretation of Catholic doctrine”… but is “engaged in a deliberate effort to change what the Church teaches.” Throughout the book from “The Surprise Election” (Chapter One) with his “sensational debut” (page 9) and Chapter Two “the Francis Effect” with the fawningly biased media, Francis appears to promote socialism, environmentalist and gives mixed messages on contraception (p 32) and gender ideology (p. 34). Chapter Three covers stalled reforms, especially “the resistance of the Old Guard” (p. 50), financial scandals and sex abuse scandals. Chapter Four covers Manipulating the Synod with promotion of unorthodox viewpoints on topics such as marriage and homosexuality leading to “an inconclusive final document” (p. 94). On page 110 the author reminds us that “Bishops are teachers, and we have a right to expect instruction rather than confusion, or, worse, obfuscation.”
This Pope shows an “intolerance for criticism” (p. 150). And on page 154 the author explains that “even a cursory reading of the Pope’s daily homilies reveals harsh rhetoric, stinging rebukes, and angry denunciations such as we have not hard from a Roman Pontiff for generations”.
Page 155 “Francis stirs up confusion, if not chaos for his staff". Page 165 the author reminds us about the “new direction of this pontificate: moving away from an emphasis on the dignity of life and the integrity of the family, embracing instead the more popular causes of secular literalism….”immigration, climate change.)
Francis is not “merely offering a novel interpretation of Catholic doctrine”… but is “engaged in a deliberate effort to change what the Church teaches.” Throughout the book from “The Surprise Election” (Chapter One) with his “sensational debut” (page 9) and Chapter Two “the Francis Effect” with the fawningly biased media, Francis appears to promote socialism, environmentalist and gives mixed messages on contraception (p 32) and gender ideology (p. 34). Chapter Three covers stalled reforms, especially “the resistance of the Old Guard” (p. 50), financial scandals and sex abuse scandals. Chapter Four covers Manipulating the Synod with promotion of unorthodox viewpoints on topics such as marriage and homosexuality leading to “an inconclusive final document” (p. 94). On page 110 the author reminds us that “Bishops are teachers, and we have a right to expect instruction rather than confusion, or, worse, obfuscation.”
This Pope shows an “intolerance for criticism” (p. 150). And on page 154 the author explains that “even a cursory reading of the Pope’s daily homilies reveals harsh rhetoric, stinging rebukes, and angry denunciations such as we have not hard from a Roman Pontiff for generations”.
Page 155 “Francis stirs up confusion, if not chaos for his staff". Page 165 the author reminds us about the “new direction of this pontificate: moving away from an emphasis on the dignity of life and the integrity of the family, embracing instead the more popular causes of secular literalism….”immigration, climate change.)
August 26, 2025
Having read this book and being a Catholic, I wasn’t surprised by what I read about Pope Francis. He was charismatic, abrupt and confusing at times. He was different from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, who were more for traditional in the Church teachings. Pope Francis was more Liberal and side- stepped issues or completely ignored questions from some of the Cardinals. Those who questioned his ideas were transferred to other offices or were given an abrupt chastise.
He had his favorites who were mostly Jesuits, which led to controversy at times. But giving Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt, there were serious problems with his papacy. Hopefully, our new American Pope will be able to bring about the present and future prospects of the Catholic Church quickly, before too many people lose hope or abandon ship.
He had his favorites who were mostly Jesuits, which led to controversy at times. But giving Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt, there were serious problems with his papacy. Hopefully, our new American Pope will be able to bring about the present and future prospects of the Catholic Church quickly, before too many people lose hope or abandon ship.
June 21, 2019
This an a truly exceptional book : totally objective (despite the author's theological position, which he only states at the very end ) and I read it with deep and sincere interest . Absolutely recommended - even though I am theologically far from the author's position.
July 23, 2019
Well written, easy to understand
Phillip has a way of explaining the current situation within our Church, how we are being misled by Pope Francis. This book is a great read for anyone wanting to understand the current circumstances surrounding the pontiff along with those who are in line with and supporting him.
Phillip has a way of explaining the current situation within our Church, how we are being misled by Pope Francis. This book is a great read for anyone wanting to understand the current circumstances surrounding the pontiff along with those who are in line with and supporting him.
May 21, 2019
Confusion
I, among many Catholics, are confused over the teachings of this pope. Is this a great cover-up, or what ? After I finished reading this book, a lot of what I was thinking about Francis, turned out to be true. I will pray for him and the mother church, especially.
I, among many Catholics, are confused over the teachings of this pope. Is this a great cover-up, or what ? After I finished reading this book, a lot of what I was thinking about Francis, turned out to be true. I will pray for him and the mother church, especially.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews