"Rome Or The Bush" was written by conservative Australian Catholic Michael Gilchrist in an effort to unite Catholics with the magisterium of John Paul II before that Pope made his historic visit to Australia.

The book, like most Catholic apologetics, is an argument against liberalism within the Church and argues that highly successful attempts by the Vatican to root out dissent from its teachings have been proved necessary. He looks fairly thoroughly at how this happens, but perhaps does not understand the control the Vatican actaully has always had over eg. the appointment of bishops. Whilst I certainly can agree wholeheartedly that the is an extremely severe danger of any institution like the Church having a worldly outlook, there is a serious danger that possible corruption and abuse within the hierarchy will never be criticised in the future.

Gilchrist's criticism is sensible, but he overstates it because he seems never to be satisfied with what the Vatican has done to push theologians and religious into line. My own lack of scepticism precludes me from assessing whether this effect will prove beneficial. All I know is that John Paul II's actions will be what governs the Catholic Church as long as it exists.

Worth reading if you are a really faithful Catholic.