Kindle Price: $5.00

Save $13.00 (72%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Book of Gomorrah and St. Peter Damian's Struggle Against Ecclesiastical Corruption Kindle Edition

by Peter Damian (Author), Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez (Foreword), Matthew Cullinan Hoffman (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 185 ratings
See all formats and editions
“Alas, it is shameful to speak of it! It is shameful to relate such a disgusting scandal to sacred ears! But if the doctor fears the virus of the plague, who will apply the cauterization? If he is nauseated by those whom he is to cure, who will lead sick souls back to the state of health?”

With these words, St. Peter Damian introduces the Book of Gomorrah, an eloquent and impassioned denunciation of a plague of homosexuality among the Catholic clergy during the 11th century. Although it was written almost a thousand years ago, the Book of Gomorrah seems addressed to our own times, associating the phenomena of clerical homosexuality and pederasty, and endorsing the imprisonment of clergy who are a danger to youth.

The Book of Gomorrah offers a scathing analysis of the evil of sodomy, while also expressing compassion for those who have fallen into such vice and the possibility of their redemption by the aid of divine grace. It explains the devastating effects of the vice both spiritually and psychologically, and warns that such behavior, particularly among the clergy, will bring down the wrath of God. It also urges the permanent defrocking of clerics who are habituated to homosexual behavior and endorses the permanent confinement those guilty of child sex abuse.

This new translation by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is the most accurate and faithful available in English, and carries a foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop
Emeritus of Guadalajara. It includes a 10,000-word biographical introduction recounting Damian’s struggle against corruption in the Catholic Church, and a translator’s preface that breaks new scholarly ground and resolves old controversies about the text.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    159 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    October 14, 2015
  5. File size
    1527 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Hard Rock apparel
Outerwear, tees, and accessories. Discover the rock shop.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Book of Gomorrah has recently been translated from the original Latin into English, with copious introductory material, by an erudite Catholic who is faithful to Christ and his Church: Matthew Cullinan Hoffman. I have accepted with pleasure the task of writing this brief presentation of a book which, upon its reading, brings us to the realization that a thousand years ago sexual vices were being practiced by various sons of the Church that lamentably are present today and have been the occasion of scandal, discredit, and apostasy."
From the foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara
"Hoffman has produced a highly readable translation of St Peter Damian's most famous work, with a scholarly and helpful commentary placing it into its historical context. As the Church once again confronts the consequences of a collapse of clerical sexual discipline, we do well to read St Peter's insistence on taking seriously the Church's early penitential tradition, and the Scriptural references which formed the foundation for this, as well as his zeal for the souls of both sinners and the victims of abuse. Hoffman has done a great service to his readers in preparing this edition."
Dr. Joseph Shaw, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at St. Benet's Hall, Oxford

About the Author

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman's award-winning articles have appeared hundreds of times in dozens of major newspapers, magazines, and news services, including the Wall Street Journal, London Sunday Times, Detroit News, LifeSite News, Catholic World Report, and the National Catholic Register. He has been a Latin America correspondent with LifeSite News since 2007, and oversaw the creation and initial direction of Notifam, LSN's Spanish and Portuguese language service. He has an M.A. in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he is certified for proficiency in Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.  

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B016NMQCJQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ite ad Thomam Books and Media (October 14, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1527 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 159 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 185 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is an essayist and journalist whose award-winning articles have appeared hundreds of times in dozens of major newspapers, magazines, and news services, including the Wall Street Journal, London Sunday Times, Detroit News, Catholic World Report, Crisis, and the National Catholic Register. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he is certified for academic proficiency in Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
185 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A review person
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for understanding...
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is a gem, because it provides a perspective on an issue, which the people of today only think belong to their time but points out quite clearly and completely the issue is a very old one.

I find it refreshing how the author and the translator of this word helps the modern reader to appreciate the complexity of the issue.

The footnotes are plenty and very informative.

Thank you very much for a job well done.
Helpful
 Report
Melekali
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
Considering this is written by a saint (Peter Damien), I was expecting a great book. The bonus is this is a new translation and the translator wrote an introduction that really gives the reader an historical placement in the issue covered. So with that background, I found when I read the actual content of the saint, it made it much more easily comprehensible. The intro also discusses varying translations when there are disparities and what the most likely best translation is. This books puts in relief the abuse situation many Churches, particularly the Catholic Church is struggling with at present. It demonstrates that this is not a new problem because there are bad people in every generation. It's a refreshing book in that sense, putting the situation in an historical context to make better understood what ought to be done to fix it. I would highly recommend this particular version due to the introduction.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Barry Mader
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Hard to absorb. Sin is never easy to accept. It is very sad to know some of our religious have fallen so far.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Louis Michael
4.0 out of 5 stars Reminds people the history repeats
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
if you accept orthodox catholic teaching of the faith and spirituality this book with be of help dealing with the present day catholic church
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Sloan
5.0 out of 5 stars classic account Peter Damian is a saint for good reason
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Peter Damian was a major author and lecturer during the Investiture controversy and a great strength for Pope Gregory VII in the battle with the German Emperors over Investiture - simony- celibacy and chastity
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
T. Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars Eleventh century work - very applicable to today
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
Absolutely outstanding work. Written in the 11th century by St. Peter Damian, a Cardinal Bishop, this is a warning to us in our own time. It is a strong condemnation of homosexual sex, a rebuke to those who practice it, a call to repentance, and a proclamation of mercy. The language is direct, plain, and unequivocal. It is noted that the book doesn't condemn those who have homosexual urges, but those who act upon them. The book is most strongly directed at those called to Holy Orders, insisting that they must remain pure, and that those who repent must do more extensive penance than the laity. He points out that some sins were condemned by God before the Ten Commandments - Sodom and Gomorrah and Onan, for example. The message is that the gift of life and the transmission of life are holy, and to defile them is to invite the wrath of God.
29 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Justin Reany
5.0 out of 5 stars The more things change the more they stay the same!
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book is frighteningly prescient! Written around the 11th century, St. Peter Damien attacks the corruption in the Church of his day (and our day). He elucidates on the common thread of sexual perversity, materialism, power, avarice all have together. The most striking and iconic focus of his critique is the widespread sexual perversity of the clergy, in particular homosexuality. His clarion call is that for all the multi-layers of corruption, the sin of sodomy (umbrella term for sexual perversion) must be addressed and rooted out first before the other sins can be addressed. The reforms of 11th century made sweeping, decisive, and forceful reforms, that for an epoch in Church history, ushered in great spiritual and hierarchical vivacity. I just hope the Church, in Her current crisis, can learn from from this book.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Peter Kemberling
5.0 out of 5 stars Repent And Return to God
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
Time to review our cultural definitions and those actions that offend God. Many current activities we do not consider sinful, or we minimize their significance. I'm in the process if changing my actions, and I prayerfully encourage each priest, monk, (religious or layperson) to review their actions based on the four clearly defined classifications of sodomy detailed by St Peter Damion (bishop and doctor). I pray for the grace to change our actions, ask for divine mercy, perform acts of penance and acts of fasting per the regulations of canon law. I pray for our church’s conversion. I prayerfully encourage each priest, monks (or religious) to remove themselves from ministry permanently or temporarily until they have restored their relationship with God through repentance.
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Jesús Ángel Solórzano Telechea
5.0 out of 5 stars Homofobia
Reviewed in Spain on June 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Libro imprescindible para conocer las raíces de la homofobia
Report
An observer
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book shows that homosexuality and other practices took place under the very eyes of the Roman Catholic Church and the cardinal fought very hard to outlaw those. I can now understand the double standards of the church despite the clear writings in the Bible
5 people found this helpful
 Report
Paul McLoughlin
4.0 out of 5 stars Good.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
Prompt delivery. Interesting book.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report