Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son

A Family of 'Vows': The Son of a Priest and a Nun
@NPR by Terry Gross

Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and their Son
by Peter Manseau

Peter is a friend of an ex of my wife's. Yup, how's that for some throw-back college drama. But that's beside the point. He's also apparently a wiz of a writer and just got interviewed by the best of the best -- Terry Gross. Besides being a memoir, Vows gives those of us who aren't New England Catholic Democrats some insight into how the priesthood evolved to accomodate the generation of Kennedys and Kerrys that came out of the 50s.

The book forms a history of how the priesthood evolved -- and how people navigate the boundaries between religious tradition and modern life. In the process, Manseau paints a picture of liberal -- and devoutly religious -- Catholics living in 1950s Boston, facing up to the church's authority.

listen to the interview. | buy the book.