Seven Lies about Catholic History

The world has long misunderstood and misrepresented the Church founded by Jesus Christ. From classrooms to documentaries, popular culture often repeats dramatic claims about Catholic history that present the Church as oppressive, anti-intellectual, or corrupt. In Seven Lies about Catholic History, historian Diane Moczar confronts these persistent myths with clarity, documentation, and historical precision.

With a brisk and accessible style, Moczar examines how these narratives developed, why they continue to circulate, and what the historical record actually shows. Addressing topics such as the Inquisition, Galileo’s trial, and the Protestant Reformation, she carefully distinguishes legend from documented fact. Rather than ignoring the complexity of history, she situates events within their proper cultural and political contexts.

The result is a readable yet substantive guide that equips Catholics to move beyond defensiveness and toward informed explanation. Instead of apologizing for caricatures of the past, readers gain the confidence to speak about the Church’s history with intellectual honesty and fidelity to truth.