A Radical Faith: The Assassination of Sister Maura

This is an excellent book which weaves together the life of an extraordinary person, her upbringing in an Irish New York family, and the geopolitics of the 1960s and 1970s in Central America. In less capable hands the book might over-rotate on one of these dimensions - but Eileen Markey finds the balance between these narrative threads and the result is a compelling and highly readable book. Many people have heard of Sr. Maura Clarke - but most of them have heard about how she died - and the impact that her death had on US policy in Central America. This book tells the far more interesting story of Maura's life - which is a story that most people have not heard. Sr. Maura was clearly a very spiritual and driven person - committed to social justice - and able to bridge cultural divides to find the things that people have in common. She did important work, mainly in Nicaragua, and then took on a far more dangerous assignment in El Salvador in the midst of that country's Civil War. Markey has done extremely thorough research based on access to primary sources - but the research serves the story well. It lends credibility to the whole journey that Sr. Maura Clarke went on a nun and as a person.

I absolutely loved this book! I traveled to El Salvador on business several times in the 90's and was aware of the social justice work of the Catholic clergy and lay volunteers. I was aware of the U.S. government's role in funding the repressive government & military there. What I did NOT know was how the social complexities of church and state were woven together in a story so compelling, so rich in context and so relevant today. Markey's meticulous research and gifted narration draw the reader in to the history of the region, the Catholic church, liberation theology, and feminist action - all told through the life of one truly remarkable woman. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in equity, justice, and peace.

I was invited to an event at which the author was speaking about this book. I feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to read a book I might otherwise never have known about. This is a story about the power of a faith that overcomes all fear, all doubt. The author has done a magnificent job of bringing Sister Maura to life through her meticulous research, her own faith, and her obvious admiration for her subject. This book gave me, a non-Catholic, insight into the development of the young Maura Clarke into the deeply devoted Sister Maura.

I am grateful to Eileen Markey for making Sr. Maura Clarke so present to me. I have always felt drawn towards the four churchwomen who were martyred in El Salvador as models of discipleship, and the story of Sr. Maura brought this even closer. The depth of detail given to Sr. Maura's formation of her faith over the course of her life was engaging and compelling - I truly felt like I got to know her and her faith journey - and now have a deeper appreciation of this woman who "laid down her life for her friends." I didn't want the book to end, as I felt like I had gotten to know Sr. Maura - and I knew what was coming. The biography is a beautiful tribute - which likely serves the stories of so many other women religious who dedicated their lives to connect with the people. There is sadness here - and I am actually still grieving after finishing the book - but there is also the witness of hope and love, and the magnitude of the power of "an open heart."

A thoroughly researched life of Maryknoll Sister Maura Clark, one of the four US churchwomen killed by government forces in El Salvador in December, 1980. I appreciated the many details of Sister Maura's life, fascinated by the connections the author of her family with the IRA rebellion in Ireland. I presume it is meant as a biography, but I think it could have used a little theological reflection on what Sister Maura was living. In addition, the ending was abrupt, probably because it lacked this element. In addition, I think the book could have used an editor who understands the history of the Catholic Church int he twentieth century. There were a few errors, but I felt that there were a few places where the way a Catholic belief or practice was mentioned was not clearly stated. It was worth the read, but the notes were not as helpful as I'd hope. They were more references to the sources and persons consulted than explanations.

An excellent biography and very meticulously researched. This story of a woman who devoted her life to promoting the well-being of others, for which she was murdered, is profoundly disturbing and at the same time uplifting. The writer has made every nuance count and has explored and developed her understanding of her subject with such dedication and fidelity. A milestone in my reading this book deserves every accolade.