Although the book is titled Patriotic Leaders of the Church, perhaps another way of saying it would be "Clergy in the Catholic Church who were both Leaders and Patriotic". With the exception of a few priests, the majority of the biographies are of Bishops, Archbishops, or Cardinals. In other words, the main focus of the book is to show that a person can be both Catholic "to the core," patriotic, and even a priest at the same time.
Each chapter (with the exception of the last one – which is a compilation) unveils the biography of a famous figure in the Catholic Church: Archbishop John Carroll, Cardinal James Gibbons, Archbishop John F. Noll, and others. (If you don't recognize his name, you will soon find out his enormous contributions to society and the Church). There are also a few Catholic laymen briefly mentioned, such as Charles and Daniel Carroll. Actually each chapter is not so much a typical biography, following his life, as it is a defense of why each person was chosen – highlighting what makes them both a patriotic American and an exceptional Catholic.
Utilizing his journalistic background, Fink uses anecdotes to draw us in to each biography where he supplies numerous snippets from various, primary sources to demonstrate how each person was both an outstanding example of the faith, defending the Church in the public square or living it in an extraordinary way, and a true American.
For those who are ignorant of how Catholics and the Catholic Church were treated in the past, this will be an eye opening experience. How many people know about the penal laws against Catholics in the original thirteen colonies or that John Quincy Adams was virulently anti-Catholic? These and many other facts supply important information about Catholics and the Catholic Church often found missing from history classes or textbooks – even some Catholic ones! More importantly, we find out about those unsung "heroes" who defended the faith in those difficult and trying moments in history, as well as those who defended or assisted their country in its time of need.
To find out about those we should be indebted to for their many contributions to society and the Church such as Cardinal John J. O'Conner (who was actively involved in the public square from speaking out on controversial subjects to visiting the sick in hospitals or participating in various Vatican agencies) you will want to read this book.
There are also Chapter Notes with a breakdown of the primary sources used in each chapter. This would be helpful for anyone doing further research on a particular priest.
