Rating: 
Summary: The Truth Be Told
Review: Garry Wills has written a thoughtful, insightful book. It is well-documented, and the facts are presented in a logical manner.It is interesting to see that the negative reviewers of the book offer no alternative arguments. One accuses him of "ignoring serious authors", yet offers no names of serious authors that Wills alledgedly ignored. Another claims he has made "gaffs and goofs", yet offers no examples from the book. Another mentions "errors, distortions", but cites none from the book. Still another calls the book "poorly researched, written and edited," but cannot give us an example of same. Don't listen to these people. I doubt that even half of them even read the book. It's worthwhile. It will make you think. Who could be opposed to that?
Rating: 
Summary: Not Easily Dismissed
Review: There is much to bemoan about this book, including the "casual" editing and the author's penchant for scoring debate points rather than offering a tight, cogent argument. If you wish to read a theological treatise on the Roman Catholic Church, don't bother with this book. However, if you want to be provoked into thinking about spirituality and the religious experience as delivered up by organized religion -- any organized religion -- this is your book. Wills, of course, targets the Roman Catholic Church in his polemic, but his central question, What (or Who) is "The Church?" is one for all denominations to consider. Wills begins by assuming that questions of faith and morals, right and wrong are not easily answered no matter what authority one consults, whether that be a Holy Book, a Shaman, or one's conscious. Thus, he unmercifully blasts the Catholic Church for asserting that it alone has a monopoly on Divine Truth, and moreover, teaches that one man possesses such profound authority. Or better: one man possesses the profound authority that can be used to assert that he alone possesses such profound authority. Think about that for a moment, and I believe that you can glimpse why Wills is alarmed and flustered. True, his observations addressing Church history are perhaps light weight and easily wither under the glare of canon lawyers, but his overriding question remains clear and insistent: Who is The Church?
Rating:
Summary: It is never bad to further the conversation regarding one's
Review: To be sure, Papal Sin is a one sided approach to many complex issues, and historical church situations. Wills will be criticised for this. Still, there are many more works done in more agreeable fashion that have been presented unquestioned. It is not news that the Vatican Curia is human and often weak. What is new is the forum for discussing this. Not a few Catholics have been put off by a Vatican "attitude" that reflects an almost disrespect for the everyday believer, as was done when the present pope declared that women in the priesthood could not be even discussed. I think that Wills has put his finger on a real , and unfortunate dynamic in the approach of the church in modern times. This does not discredit the church, and the true believer will find the avenue to love her still. It makes us better believers to understand the weaknesses. Will's book is a good tool for this.
Rating:
Summary: Just what the Doctor ordered!
Review: Until a few days ago, Gary Wills' "PAPAL SIN" was just what the doctor ordered. His scholarship and the historical portrait he painted spoke volumes. Nevertheless, having just completed Willoughby and Fernandez piledriver, "GOD ABANDONED: THE GAY CONSPIRACY UNMASKED!" I now find Wills tepid. He continually soft-pedals the primary black and white issue, that celibacy is the greatest lie and controlling factor in the history of our Western Civilizaton. Wills however was very daring and his courage is an extremely rare bird these days. He still deserves four stars. Victoria Mayers, Theological Student
Rating:
Summary: Well Presented Polemic, Sure to Upset Many
Review: Garry Wills' Papal Sin will be a book that upsets many. He has a strong opinion of the ways in which the papacy has betrayed his personal sense of Catholicism over the years and he expertly and effectively uses history to bolster many of his points. Garry Wills is a good writer and a devilish historian so the web he weaves is strong and alluring. It is only one side of the argument but it has probably never been presented so well, hence the angry responses this book will evocate. It you are in agreement with Garry Wills, you will be delighted by this book and use many of these same arguments yourself. Garry Wills is not anti-Catholic but he does speak out against a papacy that is not addressing the concerns of many of members. Beyond all the controversy of this book, it is a wonderfully entertaining read that strings together themes from the past two centuries of papal history. A joy.
Rating: 
Summary: High Kitch
Review: Empty-headed petulence. This book more than anything is a fascinating and highly amusing portrait of the liberal-catholic mind at the end of the 20th century. To call Mr. Wills smug or the book bad is meaningless. It is pure Wills. And unfortunatley, the show must go on. The book is simply high kitch. Mr. Wills cannot even explain why he remains a Catholic. A sadly mindless, witless piece of work that reads as if it was cobbled together in a few hours.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating & well written book unfairly condemned
Review: It is obvious that Catholics have been attacking this very interesting books. Typos occur in every book. But most books about Catholicism are not written by Catholics who actually believe in the Church AND are good researchers, with excellent credentials. Garry Wills is both of these things. And this book shows off his scholarship as well as his knowledge about Catholicism. Read this book! You might learn something.
Rating:
Summary: Polemics, Not Scholarship
Review: Readers of Papal Sin should be aware that, although the book bears a physical resemblance to a work of scholarship, it's mere angry polemics. Wills consistently ignores serious authors who argue--and, often, demonstrate--theses that contradict him. The treatment of matters like Vatican Council I and the Humanae Vitae debate will not impress anyone familiar with the literature on these topics. A pity.
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Summary: Ugh! Smug self-righteousness & sophomoric scholarship
Review: As a former student of Prof. Wills, let me speak on behalf of several other alumni, and say how ashamed we are of the gaffes and goofs throughout this book (I lost track after counting over two dozen). What can explain his arrogant tone and sophomoric style? We're all at a complete loss. Wills used to demand more from his undergraduates. But that was before he embraced his new faith as a convert to Democratic liberalism. Since then, he's embraced sophomoric apologetics for such infallible dogmas as gay rights, abortion rights etc.
Rating:
Summary: Embarrassingly bad writing
Review: This is poorly researched, written and edited. Names and dates are confused, sources misquoted, opponents badly misrepresented. I didn't know Wills had this sort of ill-tempered myopia, but that's what often happens when you turn against your own religious tradition.
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