The Catholic Answer Book 4

by Father Peter M.J. Stravinskas OSV, 2003 304 pages, $12.95 To order: (800) 348-2440 www.osvpublishing.com

I don't know about you, but when I hear a recording artist I like, I generally wait until they release a “best of” or “greatest hits” collection before buying their music. For one thing, I can't afford to purchase a release that might have just one or two songs that match my taste.

Likewise, most of the Catholic publications I enjoy are beyond my budget. For that reason, I dove into Father Peter Stravinskas' fourth “best of” collection, taken from the

pages of The Catholic Answer magazine, with great relish.

Here I found a very good resource for anyone who has a question about the Catholic faith — and a brisk read for anyone who enjoys the power of pithy prose.

The first book in this series was published in 1990. Since that time Our Sunday Visitor Publishing has published follow-up Qand-A compilations from the 16-year-old magazine about every three to four years.

And it's not like this is leftover content from the first three books in the series. In fact, this one is more than 100 pages beefier than the volume that preceded it.

Though he sometimes strikes me as a little bit wordier than he probably needs to be, Father Stravinskas can never be accused of skirting an issue or short-changing a questioner.

For example, one questioner, a Catholic, had been discussing the impact of religious leaders' moral failings with a Baptist acquaintance. The Baptist “pointed out that the papacy committed many improprieties, including the fact that there were three individuals serving as pope at the same time … Can you please explain the discrepancies and define the term ‘anti-pope?’”

Father Stravinskas' answer: “As you suggest, since about the third century, the Church has been harassed by pretenders to the papal throne. The term ‘anti-pope,’ how-ever, did not gain currency until the 12th century. Approximately 37 men have made illegitimate claims on the papal office; most of them were little more than cranks, but some indeed garner significant support from civil authorities. With more stringent rules for the election of a pope, the existence of anti-popes became a practical impossibility since the 15th century.”

You have to love a straight shooter, which is what I would consider a priest who's not afraid to call an impostor pope a “crank.” In fact, it occurs to me now that Catholics who enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh will enjoy reading Father Stravinskas. (This is not to say that Catholics who do not enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh will not enjoy Father Stravinskas.)

Another entry that made a memorable impression on me was titled “Absurd Statement.” The questioner asks,

“I recently heard the allegation ‘the Pope has the largest collection of pornography in the world.’

How does one respond to this?”

“How absurd!” Father Stravinskas responds. “I, too, have heard the statement … and they are referring to the works of art in the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. If they don't know the difference between pornography and serious art, nothing you say will be of much help. Pray for their enlightenment.”

If there's one thing we need more of right now, it's faithful priests who aren't afraid to tell it like it is. For that reason alone, I believe The Catholic Answer Book 4 provides a great service to the Church — and a wonderful read for the faithful. I can hardly wait for the next “best of” entry in the series.

Bill Zalot writes from Levittown, Pennsylvania.