Contact Paul E. Rondeau, American Life League, 540-659-4171, prondeau@ALL.org

STAFFORD, Va., March 16, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Judie Brown, a prolific Catholic author and astute observer of Catholic leadership in America says, "Current events have made it impossible to continue to ignore serious consequences that come into play when religious leaders or their representatives confuse religion with politics."

In her new book, The Broken Path: How Catholic Bishops Got Lost in the Weeds of American Politics , she writes:

[T]he leadership of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops . . . has taken the moral currency of Catholic doctrine and, to a large extent, squandered it on securing seats at the table of the political and cultural powerbrokers in America. . . . Catholic structures, such as schools and hospitals, have grown dependent on government financial support. . . . An ordained priest, including Catholic bishops, cannot feed the hungry soul when he is more interested in playing footsie with politicians.

Bishop Rene Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi, Texas, calls Brown's latest work a "hard-hitting wake-up call to Catholics."

Appointed twice by Pope John Paul II and again by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Academy for Life, Brown is known as a pull-no-punches defender of her beloved Church -- whether the attack comes from without or within.

Brown says she wrote the book after five ears of research because, "Even now in the 21st century, it is not idealistic to point out that the primary and singularly exclusive role of Catholic bishops and, by extension, their ordained priests and deacons, is to strengthen Catholic people in their faith by setting the example in their words and their deeds."

During the writing process something else occurred to her: "When anyone who is responsible and aware of a problem chooses to ignore it or otherwise walk away from it, he or she becomes part of it."

The Broken Path: How Catholics Bishops Got Lost in the Weeds of American Politics has a five-star rating on Amazon. Readers call the book "amazing, disturbing, thought provoking, and ultimately uplifting."

Media inquiries, interviews, or for review copies, please contact Paul E. Rondeau at 540.659.4171 or prondeau@ALL.org.

Judie Brown is president and co-founder of the nation's oldest and largest Catholic pro-life advocacy group, American Life League. For more information, please visit www.ALL.org or call 540-659-4171.