{"product_id":"the-cardinal-virtues-9780765324429","title":"The Cardinal Virtues","description":"\u003cp\u003eFather Laurence O'Toole McAuliffe, the pastor of Saint Finian's parish in Forest Springs, is weary and worn out, his priesthood and faith in tatters. Once literally a bomb-throwing radical and then a Vatican Council liberal, Lar McAuliffe has grown old and cynical. To make matters worse, he's smart enough to know what is happening to him. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGod, the cardinal, or some combination of the two plays a dirty trick on Lar by sending him Father James Stephen Michael Finbar Keenan, the \"new priest.\" Lar expects a classic confrontation between young and old, between sardonic maturity and enthusiastic inexperience. But the new priest does not fit the stereotype and the two become friends. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTogether they face the conflicts and joys, the hopes and pains of the contemporary Catholic parish--the old-fashioned school principal; the broken family; the reactionary finance committee; frustrated young lovers; and the chancery office and a timid Cardinal, who interferes with the priests' work on every possible occasion. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlternately sad and uproariously funny, \u003ci\u003eThe Cardinal Virtues\u003c\/i\u003e is about the meaning of religion, the meaning of faith, and the meaning of life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePriest, sociologist, author, and journalist, \u003cb\u003eFather Andrew M. Greeley\u003c\/b\u003e (1928-2013) was the author of over 50 bestselling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. His novels include the Bishop Blackie Ryan series, including \u003ci\u003eThe Archbishop in Andalusia\u003c\/i\u003e; the Nuala Anne McGrail series, including \u003ci\u003eIrish Tweed\u003c\/i\u003e; the O'Malley Family Saga, including \u003ci\u003eA Midwinter's Tale\u003c\/i\u003e; and standalones such as \u003ci\u003eHome for Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Cardinal Sins\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA leading spokesperson for generations of Catholics, Father Greeley unflinchingly urged his beloved Church to become more responsive to believers' evolving concerns. He chronicled his service to the Church in two autobiographies, \u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Parish Priest\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFurthermore!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Forge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50328139137298,"sku":"9780765324429","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_768faa87-cb64-41fa-82fa-f0d37c3076de.jpg?v=1727729319","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-cardinal-virtues-9780765324429","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}