EAMON MAHER, in The Church and its Spire: John McGahern and the
Catholic question, looks at the life and work of a controversial
figure in the Irish RC Church. McGahern's second novel was banned,
and he was also sacked from a teaching post because of his
ambivalent relationship with his Church. The author explores how,
though he abhorred the institutional aspects of the Church in which
he was brought up, he also found much in its awe-inspiring mystery
and worship (The Columba Press, £15.99(£14.40);
978-1-85607-728-6).
MICHAEL COLLINS's
Death of a Saviour: Reflections on Good
Friday is Three Hours material: thoughts on "The
Politicians"; "Four Angry Men", Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, and Pontius
Pilate; and the arrest, interrogation, humiliation, and crucifixion
of Jesus; plus meditations and prayers on the Seven Last Words, and
on the 14 Stations of the Cross (The Columba Press, £5.99(£5.40);
978-1-78218-022-7).
In the Grove Evangelism
series (No. 86), Jonny Baker writes about Transforming
Preaching: Communicating God's word in a postmodern
world. He urges preachers to try something new, and
suggests what will aid communication today (Grove, £3.95(£3.55);
978-1-85174-720-7).
A collection of sermons on
Isaiah 53 by R. T. Kendall has been published as Why
Jesus Died. Chapters look at why anyone would believe
in Jesus, who crucified him, and how he handled injustice, among
other topics (Monarch, £7.99(£7.20); 978-0-85721-061-6).