This is a book which criticises the oppression of women in the Catholic Church and in Western society. It begins with ancient, pre-Christian taboos and the relatively healthy attitudes of the ancient Jews towards sexual matters, and presents evidence that the early Christians chose pagan models of sexual conduct, and not the Jewish perspective. The book argues that from the apostle Paul to Pope John Paul II, the Church has denigrated sex, degraded women, and championed a perverse ideal of celibacy which, according to the author, stems from a misinterpretation of Christ's words in Matthew 19:11. The book suggests that the Church has glorified Mary's virginity, implying that all normal conception and childbearing are somehow polluted, and has denied the fact that Jesus had siblings. The book shows that the Church has damned birth control, campaigned fiercely against masturbation, which is never mentioned much less forbidden, in the Bible, and has even banned the use of condoms by AIDS patients.
- ISBN10 0140165002
- ISBN13 9780140165005
- Publish Date 31 October 1991
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 3 December 1998
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 368
- Language English