Catholic Porn

Catholic literature is rarely pious. In ways that sometimes trouble or puzzle both Protestant and secular readers, Catholic writing tends to be comic, rowdy, rude, and even violent. ~ Dana Gioia

My “One Summer in the Sun” has been jokingly (I hope) referred to as ‘Catholic porn.’ It is true there is a certain amount of Catholicism in it. It is also true there is adult content—graphic sex. I do not see much, if any, conflict between the two.

That is because both are about passion. Religion should be passionate; it should be a love affair. As should life! There is certainly a long tradition of spiritual passion among the mystics of Catholicism, a tradition of embracing God’s creation. But that is not what ‘One Summer’ is about. Not really. I did not set out to write a ‘Catholic novel’ in any sense.

Catholicism plays a fairly small role. Yes, one of the three main protagonists in “Summer” is a practicing Catholic. Yes, a major secondary character is considering the priesthood. And yes, I grew up in the church and am Catholic. I suppose that makes me a ‘Catholic writer’ in at least some sense of the word.

And it does shape my views and my views, in turn, shape the story. If one wishes to read the sexual scenes as porn, so be it. For me, they were inseparable from that story. That story is about friendship and searching and love and, yes, passion.