The Black Wall of Silence: A Novel

The Black Wall of Silence In the midst of the sexual abuse crisis that is tearing the Church apart, a Catholic priest is caught between fighting for the victims of sexual abuse and his bond of loyalty to the Church. What makes this conflict unique is the internal struggle of the priest who is gay, in a Church that is ashamed of his orientation and rewards him for his silence. While working as a chaplain in Riker's Island Jail, Father Zach learns from an inmate's confession, that the priest whom the inmate is accused of murdering, sexually abused him when he was a teenager. Father Zach discovers that his friend, who is now a bishop, was the one who reassigned this priest after his first abuse. The battle of the priest, determined to defend the inmate, and the bishop, intent on defending the Church, drives the plot to its courtroom climax. Which will prevail - honesty or loyalty? "A taut, powerful story exploring the personal dimensions of the Catholic sexual abuse crisis." -- Kirkus Reviews "A powerful book that raises universal questions about being silenced: Do you ever muffle your own voice? What secrets imprison you?" -- Debbie Yee Lan Wong, author of The Same Sky "A gripping story of a man's struggle for his own integrity as the protagonist, Father Zach, confronts conflicting loyalties to his church, his conscience, and to his very humanity." -- Rev. Donald Cozzens, author of Master of Ceremonies "Gives readers an intimate, seldom-described peek into a gay priest's life--his sometimes conflictual and often deeply wounding relationships with Church authorities." -- Richard Taylor, author of Love in Action