- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Prion Books Ltd (1 April 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 185375207X
- ISBN-13: 978-1853752070
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 945,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The Popes have been responsible for setting the sexual agenda for almost a quarter of the world's population for centuries. It was St Paul, scholars say, who set up the church's strong anti-sex stance. Popes ever since have publicly praised the virtues of chastity and fidelity. But many may not have practised what they preached, and some may have been far more promiscuous than the most dissolute heathen. This is an irreverent expose of the Bishops of Rome, from St Peter to the 1990s, casting a humorous, yet historically accurate eye on the history of Papal infidelity. From the Borges to the Antipopes it unearths all the duplicity and scandal, including marriage, adultery, illegitimate children, homosexuality and pornography.
From the Author
The newest books in my Sex Lives series have a list of all the
personalities that appear the books, so you can play "International Daisy
Chain". This is a game invented, not by me, but by Truman Capote. Pick any
two people from the list and see how many lovers you need to daisy chain
between them. The player who joins them with the least lovers wins. Play it
at home or in bed - or why not try a game of "Strip Daisy Chain"?
personalities that appear the books, so you can play "International Daisy
Chain". This is a game invented, not by me, but by Truman Capote. Pick any
two people from the list and see how many lovers you need to daisy chain
between them. The player who joins them with the least lovers wins. Play it
at home or in bed - or why not try a game of "Strip Daisy Chain"?
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Even in an age when priestly misdemeanours regularly hit the headlines, it would be hard to imagine Pope John Paul II being ministered to by a mother superior, while the college of cardinals looked on. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Even in an age when priestly misdemeanours regularly hit the headlines, it would be hard to imagine Pope John Paul II being ministered to by a mother superior, while the college of cardinals looked on. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book emphasizes on the attitude of the popes towards the sex lives of their priests. Many popes were concerned with the celibacy of their priests and forbade marriage for priests. However, they used to sell them licenses for keeping mistresses. Usually, they were prepared to tolerate priests who kept incestuous relations with female relatives or raped women in the church. "When a woman fainted during confession and the priest seized the opportunity to rape her, the Inquisition found that this, technically, was not a case of soliciting." The pope's only concern was that priests would defile the sacrament when handling it afterwards.
The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general.
Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.
The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general.
Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
17 reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
selling licenses for keeping mistresses
29 Dec 2001
Format:Paperback
This book emphasizes on the attitude of the popes towards the sex lives of their priests. Many popes were concerned with the celibacy of their priests and forbade marriage for priests. However, they used to sell them licenses for keeping mistresses. Usually, they were prepared to tolerate priests who kept incestuous relations with female relatives or raped women in the church. "When a woman fainted during confession and the priest seized the opportunity to rape her, the Inquisition found that this, technically, was not a case of soliciting." The pope's only concern was that priests would defile the sacrament when handling it afterwards.
The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general.
Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.
The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general.
Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Sex Lives of the Popes -- a Fascinating Read
20 May 2006
Format:Paperback
The author managed to keep an excellent sense of humor throughout the entire book, starting from Peter and ending with the late Jean Paul II. Fascinating, revealing, exposing -- great in one word.
Taboos are shattered, beliefs given new horizons. I recomend this book to any reader. Interesting read.
I liked the phrase "Julius II was an insatiable bisexual"...
Taboos are shattered, beliefs given new horizons. I recomend this book to any reader. Interesting read.
I liked the phrase "Julius II was an insatiable bisexual"...
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Indulgence in all God has forbidden.
1 Jun 1999
Format:Paperback
This book emphasizes on the attitude of the popes towards the sex lives of their priests. Many popes were concerned with the celibacy of their priests and forbade marriage for priests. However, they used to sell them licenses for keeping mistresses. Usually, they were prepared to tolerate priests who kept incestuous relations with female relatives or raped women in the church. "When a woman fainted during confession and the priest seized the opportunity to rape her, the Inquisition found that this, technically, was not a case of soliciting." The pope's only concern was that priests would defile the sacrament when handling it afterwards. The passages about the sex lives of the popes themselves are mainly based on hearsay. Cawthorne accuses several popes of incest with either their sisters or bastard daughters, like pope Alexander VI Borgia, who retired with his daughter to "an interior room and remained locked up together for more than an hour". In secret she gave birth to a baby that was hidden, but that doesn't prove that her father was the father. Many other popes seem to have had preferences for young boys, prostitutes or sex-and-food orgies in general. Despite many unproven accusations, the book clearly shows that many popes were mainly concerned with their own pleasures and did not give a damn about Christian values. Anyway, the book is good reading stuff.
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