BOOKS

Notices and reviews of books, articles, plays and poetry dealing with homosexuality and the sex variant. Readers are invited to send in reviews or printed matter for review.

BOD

SAFT

COUNSELLING THE CATHOLIC by George Hagmaier, CSP, and Robert Gleason, SJ, 301 + xiv pages, Sheed & Ward, New York, $4.50.

Although written primarily for priests and seminarians, and others concerned with counselling, portions of this excellent book will be of interest to ONE's readers. Of the thirteen chapters, two are devoted to psychological perspectives and moral aspects of homosexuality, and a similar pair to masturbation. Of lesser interest would be a third pair on alcoholism, and the general discussions.

The authors, a Paulist and a Jesuit priest, are young, but with established reputations. Their writing is wonderfully free from the jargon of the psychiatrist and sociologist: in discussing the human personality, the Freudian term id is relegated to a footnote, being replaced by an easyto-understand definition of an unconscious conscience. Their attitudes are sympathetic: "The problem of homosexuality is primarily a problem for the psychiatrist and only secondarily a moral problem... We (the counsellor) must begin humbly . . . realize our limitations . . . and stay clear of amateur probing and speculation for which we are not

trained." And they are not heavy: "Many an old maid who shrieks at the possibility of finding a man under her bed may secretly relish the prospect."

For the Catholic homosexual who has trouble finding a sympathetic and effectual confessor (and that includes practically everyone), this book may be a wonderful encouragement.

J. D.

MORALITY AND THE HOMOSEXUAL, by Rev. Michael J. Buckley, The Newman Press, Westminster, Maryland, 1960, originally published by Sands & Co., Ltd., London. 214 pp. $3.50.

The foreword to this book by Most Rev. John C. Heenan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, plus the fly-leaf Nihil obstat and Imprimatur establish the authoritative character of the volume. In an introduction, twelve concise chapters, Conclusion, Appendix and Bibliography, Fr. Buckley with admirable clarity summarizes the current scientific concensus on such topics as "The Terminology and Nature of Homosexualty," extent of the problem, genetic causality and hormonal theories, "Familial incidents," early family environ-