Apologetics without apology

Why Catholics Are Right by Michael Coren
McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2011

If you're Catholic, truly Catholic, you've been there. That moment when you're faced with defending the faith, but in doing so you know you must also be polite, and accommodating, and politically correct. Heaven forbid anyone should have their feelings hurt by your beliefs. And one mustn't dare try to evade the undeniable and universally-accepted truth of the church's outright wretchedness and underlying evil. Usually this means bending over backwards to repeatedly acknowledge all the church's mistakes (yes, in 2000-plus years there have been some) while simultaneously never missing an opportunity to give due praise to the theologically accurate doctrines and practices retained by the particular Protestant denomination of the person to whom one is speaking. It can be a tightrope act daunting enough to make many simply decide defending the faith isn't worth the headache. Those that forge ahead often wish they hadn't and come away feeling something was missing -- unsatiated, like they couldn't really say what they wanted.

Why Catholics Are Right is there to fill that hole. Author Michael Coren says what many Catholics would like to say, but never do. He tells it like it is, without apology. He's convinced the Catholic Church is right on the basics, but this book really isn't primarily about fundamental theology. While Coren does devote some space to defending often misunderstood basic tenets of the faith, much more ink is spent exploring the most common areas of attack on the church -- sex scandal, church history, crusades, inquisition, obsession with life issues.

It's refreshing that Coren is willing to call nonsense nonsense. If he stopped there, however, it would be nothing more than a big, "Shut up! You're stupid!" Thankfully, Coren realizes it's not enough just to point out common errors in the perceptions of the church. He adeptly explains in a quickly-paced, accessible style why he believes those who attack the church are wrong. And it's not merely his opinion or interpretation. Coren cites numerous references and fills the end pages with a bibliography that can be another of source of informational wealth for those willing to mine it.

While Coren is direct and unapologetic about the church, he manages to maintain a tone of sincerity. It's obvious he truly wants to share the facts and dispel the myths that surround the church, its practices, and its history. Unquestionably, and hopefully with the same sincerity Coren displays, those who are Catholic will find themselves better equipped to stand up for what they know is right about the Catholic Church. And the few brave non-Catholics who honestly journey between the covers will also be rewarded at least a time or two, and probably surprised, with the realization that the Catholic Church is indeed right.