crit-2008-11-23 (Morris West, Devil's Advocate)

Looking for a good book you can curl up with without curling up your morals? Wanting a story that
will send your pulse racing but won't send you racing to the confessional? Well, you're in luck –
because I'm Simon Rafe and this, is the Catholic Critic!

<run Catholic Critic intro>

Welcome back to the Catholic Critic, where we take a look at art, literature, music and all that good
stuff from a Catholic perspective. Today, a book written by an Australian!

<a “Steve Irwin” parody, shot in Mike's back yard, ideally with an inflatable crocodile. Perhaps use
some footage of crocodiles shot in the Everglades which clearly doesn't fit!>

No, not that sort of Australian book. This is a book written by the well-known author Morris West, who
wrote many stories which involved the Catholic Church, and many of which are set in Rome and the
Vatican. You might not have heard the name, but you'll probably have heard of one of his stories – he
wrote the book “The Shoes of the Fisherman” which was made into a movie of the same name.

<OTS graphic of “The Shoes of the Fisherman” poster>

That book was particularly interesting as it featured a pope from behind the Iron Curtain – several years
before John Paul II was elevated to the papacy. But, it's not that book I'm talking about today.

The Devil's Advocate, a book of intrigue and mystery in the Vatican! The story follows an English
Monsignor assigned as the Devil's Advocate – the official Vatican skeptic – to a case for beatification.
He himself is dying of cancer, plagued not only with illness, but also with personal doubts and
uncertainties. The characters he encounters – the illegitimate son of the man being considered for
sainthood, the man's mistress, the homosexual artist, the Jewish doctor, various officials in the Vatican
– each reveal to him a piece of the puzzle, and at the same time take him on a journey which leads to
discovery of his role as a priest and a man.

In fact, the story really isn't about the case for beatification – it is about Monsignor Blaise Meredith's
own growth and character development, and by the end of the novel he has certainly changed. I won't
spoil it for you – but the ending is a positive one for all Catholics.

West has written an excellent book – with very solid character development, an exciting plot delivered
by some really wonderful, powerful prose, and some extremely positive Catholic messages and
episodes. Obviously, this is a book set in Rome and with Catholic protagonists – but unlike many
modern novels, it doesn't show the Catholic Church as the villain. There are several places in the novel
where Catholic truths – such as the fact the faith has remained unchanged since the time of the Apostles
– are simply dropped in, casually and without fanfare. All of this creates a wonderful sense of the
rightness of the Catholic faith, which is enough for me to recommend the book.

A word must be said about the depiction of the homosexual character – he is shown as being somewhat
pitiful, essentially eking out a living by sponging off a rich Contessa and a young man. When he is
confronted by the Monsignor for his predatory actions, he responds by saying that God made him this
way, and that he cannot help what he does. The priest can find no answer for the homosexual man, and
feels that he has failed him – yet the novel does not say that there IS no answer, merely that the priest
does not have it. Of course, we know that the Church DOES have the answer, and the portrayal of the
homosexual artist's life in the novel as essentially a parasite leeching financially off the Contessa and
the young boy shows us the truth about the selfish nature of homosexual relationships.

The Devil's Advocate is a book strongly recommended for older teens and adults – children might not
understand and certainly won't appreciate some of the subjects raised in here. This is the sort of book
you could take on holiday or on a long flight or train journey. It's direct, exciting and accessible. If you
want to have a bit of a book club discussion about the themes raised, check out the document over
there. There are some good discussion questions there.

This novel is not just interesting for its own sake – the author, Morris West, has an interesting life story.
He was an Australian, born during World War I, and he spent twelve years of his life at a monastery of
the Christian Brothers, but left before taking final vows. He served in World War Two in the Royal
Australian Air Force and, after the war, served as the Vatican correspondent for the Daily Mail
newspaper in England. It was here that he learned much of his craft of writing, and also learned a great
deal about the operation of international politics and the Church – topics which are common in his
novels.

He wrote many books – both novels and non-fiction – and several plays. What is perhaps most
interesting is the fact that he divorced his first wife and remarried while she was still living. He tried to
obtain a decree of nullity for his first marriage, and because of his marital situation was out of
communion with the Church for many years. He did, however, attend Mass every single Sunday and
was described as a committed and firm believer in the Catholic faith.

Despite winning several awards for literature and being awarded several honorary doctorates, he was
never really accepted by Australia's literary clique – he was completely missed out of the Oxford
Literary History of Australia, despite his great commercial and popular success.

Morris West died in 1999, and so all we have of him are his novels. I urge you to read them, especially
The Devil's Advocate. And, while you do so, remember to pray for his soul. He portrayed the Church
and her members in a sympathetic and engaging light, and the least we can do is pray for him.

I'm Simon Rafe, and this has been the Catholic Critic.

((Closing credits))

Special Thanks to Liza Rafe

This episode of the Catholic Critic dedicated to the memory of;

Steve Irwin & Morris West
“Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, Oh Lord”