Don Giesen

Settlement Don Giesen

In every profession there are young men and women who fall through the cracks, graduate and come to degrade the trust, respect and admiration rendered to their peers. Even the priesthood has such persons and the cover-ups and tactics that go with it surpass any other calling. Until recently the priesthood was protected and went unnoticed until the media started reporting financial and sexual impropriety discovered within the Catholic Church. When this comes to light, diocesan offices will go to any extreme to cover up the crimes and prevent scandal. Many find it difficult to believe that some who perform God's work, especially priests, engage in criminal acts of fraud, deceit, embezzlement or sexual misconduct - but they do. This novel is about such an individual. Father Matthew Ryan is personable and superficially charming. Yet his persistent impulsive, irresponsible, amoral and immoral behavior combined with distorted thinking and feeling is manifested in disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others. Within twenty-four hours after arriving at the parish, he terminates the housekeeper and makes other major changes. Repeated letters and visits are made to the bishop but to no avail. After discharging the parish secretary and eventually establishing a physical relationship with her son, the story takes an unexpected twist. The turning point is when two boarders in the rectory commit a heinous crime. From then on, the priest is dealt with outside the realm of the diocesan office. The manner in which this is done is atypical of any mid-western, redneck town. But Mary 'Mac' McBride, considered an outcast of parish life, takes the situation in hand and does what needs to be done. Nobody wants to take on the Catholic Church. Yet this story does not bash that institution. Rather, it exposes those who take advantage of power then hide behind the skirts of the very tradition they claim to love, honor and serve. This isn't just a story about a priest's dysfunctional be