The Priest Who Couldn't Cheat

A beautifully written glimpse into one man's decisions and struggles -- from the huge unexpected sojourn into priesthood to the ultimate question of faith and beliefs. Mr. Mattimore's stories shimmer in their truth. He seems a guy we'd all want to invite for Sunday pasta; his words of earnest humility and ultimate goodness ring.

Sexual evolution clashes with celibacy and so there was the Priest Who Couldn't Cheat. Each step in this journey could have been saturated with social and spiritual commentary but Mattimore keeps a "Dragnet " focus, "Just the facts, sir." It is a thought provoking narrative from a conflicted youth travelling through the prism of the priesthood to a devoted husband and father. His style makes each experience come alive. As one reads many reflections come to mind and fortunately the discussion guide at the end helps us to reflect more deeply. For this reader,at least, that was the "rest of the story".

I loved this book because it was so clearly from the heart. The author gives a personal account of life in the priesthood and answers all those questions us lay people want to know, like "How do they deal with celibacy?" and "Do they really believe all the dogma that they preach?" Mr. Mattimore doesn't presume to speak for anyone but himself; the book isn't preachy or strident. It's just a simple memoir about the life of a regular guy from Buffalo, NY, who ended up as a missionary in Japan, then quit the priesthood, and who has learned a lot about life in the journey.