Emmett McLoughlin’s Crime and Immorality in the Catholic Church (Lyle Stuart, 1962, first edition) is a provocative and meticulously documented examination of alleged criminal and immoral behavior within the Catholic Church, drawn from McLoughlin’s experience as a former Franciscan priest. Combining firsthand observation with statistical and historical analysis, the book challenges institutional authority and explores the social and psychological dynamics that, in McLoughlin’s view, allowed misconduct to flourish. Insightful, controversial, and compelling, this work remains a striking piece of mid-20th-century religious critique.
This copy is inscribed by the author and includes the unclipped dust jacket, showing moderate edgewear along the spine and edges.
About the Author
Emmett McLoughlin (1899–1973) was a former Franciscan priest, social activist, and author known for his outspoken critiques of institutional religion. After leaving the Church, he wrote several books exposing what he saw as corruption and moral failings within religious institutions, drawing on both firsthand experience and investigative research. McLoughlin’s work sparked debate in the mid-20th century and remains of interest to scholars of religion, social reform, and controversial nonfiction.
