Struck Down, Not Destroyed
Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter
by Colleen Dulle
I’m not sure whether it’s serendipity or a divine plan, but hot on the heels of Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin’s debut novel Ordinary Saints, I read another book which deals with Catholicism and the challenge of remaining within the fold when faced with the Church’s very human shortcomings. Struck Down, Not Destroyed, whose title is inspired by a passage St Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, is a work of non-fiction by Colleen Dulle. Dulle is a Vaticanist who regularly writes and podcasts for America, a monthly Catholic magazine published by the Jesuits of the US. The theme which runs throughout Dulle’s book is set out in the subtitle: “Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter”. Dulle chronicles the scandals which have rocked the Church, and which she has found herself covering over the past years: ranging from abuse of minors and vulnerable people, to financial crises, to the exclusion of women from the hierarchies of the Church. I found Dulle’s insights about these issues very interesting and informative. As a European Catholic, I was struck by her observations about the strong intersection between religion and politics in the US and now appreciate better Pope Francis’ wish to rein in the use of the Tridentine Mass, so often “weaponised” in the culture wars which are particularly strongly felt in the US.
Struck Down, Not Destroyed is, in part, a work of journalism, but it works even better as a spiritual memoir. Dulle charts her growth into an adult Catholic, often disillusioned by a Church which she still consciously chooses to remain a part of. She recounts phases of spiritual aridity, of rage against the Church and against God Himself. But, perhaps against the odds, she still finds solace in prayer, worship and doing good works. She is helped in this by other Catholics – friends, family and spiritual counsellors – who share and understand her plight, and ultimately by her faith in God and the saints, even though it might be a faith shaken on a regular basis. Dulle’s book should instil hope in the hearts of fellow spiritual travellers.
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