Joseph P W Baker – författare

The ''God Debate'' is given a shot in the arm with this new assault on a leading Church Father, St Augustine of Hippo. Vignettes from the author''s church school where he faced abuse by Catholic priests, illustrate the work.

He traces the roots of clerical child sexual abuse and suggests the Church''s teaching on sex and sin might play a more influential role than has generally been recognised in mainstream social science. Lucid descriptions by a schoolteacher of RE lessons in faith schools today, will stir readers who suppose Christianity is a benign influence to think again.

In 2021 the UK Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published a dossier, revealing that the church remains mired in safeguarding and abuse scandals. Yet nothing in literature explains this deviance credibly. The possible influence of Augustinian ideas on the church''s continuing exploitation and neglect of children in its care, is examined in depth here.

This book fills a gap in the shelf, lifting the lid on a story of abuse and indoctrination which continues to this day.