Title: The Conspiracy: An Innocent Priest
Author: Monsignor William McCarthy
Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
ISBN: 978-1643677439
Pages: 456
Genre: Religious Leader Biographies
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
The fight for justice and the truth has always been at the forefront of mankind’s minds. Yet in our fight for justice, there are often times where people overstep and mishandle situations where an injustice has yet or has not occurred. As the English novelist Henry Fielding once said, “Guilt has very quick ears to an accusation.”
In author Monsignor William McCarthy’s The Conspiracy: An Innocent Priest, the author tells the real-life story of a priest who underwent five years of trials and tribulations after a false accusation of abuse against two young children. After a vendetta from two other women brings this false accusation about, the priest must fight and rely on the love of his friends and his faith to help him get through the trials he must endure to fight these false allegations.
This is a very detailed, in-depth analysis of the struggle between balancing true accusations with false accusations in the effort to expose others who have wronged the world. The author does a great job of incorporating the facts of the case into the narrative and showcases several letters, journal entries, and more as further evidence on his behalf for what he endured during this time.
This is a book perfect for those who enjoy religious based memoirs and non-fiction reads that deal with organized religion and the leadership behind them; the fight against injustice and finding the truth no matter what. The concept of false allegations is not a new concept, as it is more prevalent in today’s day and age with technology and social media often vilifying or victimizing people before all of the facts can present themselves, while others who have been wronged get overlooked due to these false accusations being fresh on people’s minds, making this type of case something readers will easily be able to gravitate towards and understand.
This is a thought-provoking, engaging and shocking read. The author’s struggles to clear his name and highlight the journey to get the truth heard despite the lack of investigation or corroboration from authorities and even his own leadership within the church about the allegations is both challenging and heartbreaking to read, and will instantly connect readers to the author’s plight.
