“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.
When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
~ St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests
Father Paul Freemont was the beloved pastor of a thriving Catholic Church in a suburban Virginia community—until he was accused of the sexual abuse of minors.
Unholy Scandal is the story of a Catholic priest’s quest to prove his innocence of the accusations, which were alleged to have occurred decades prior during his tenure as principal at an all-boys Catholic high school.
His years-long struggle was intensified—and his life changed forever—as the number of accusations grew and the circle of those he could trust got smaller.
“Unholy Scandal by Patti Hornstra is a captivating and devastating account of a priest’s life turned upside down. Father Paul Freemont, the beloved and cherished pastor of a thriving Catholic Church, is stunned by a humiliating accusation that snowballs out of control. This fascinating yet tragic story follows Father Paul from the day he first chose to devote his life to the Church through the pain and struggle of mourning everything and everyone he’d lost along the way. Hornstra writes about the traumatic nature of the scandal with objective and respectful professionalism, skillfully reminding us to always set our sights on what is important in life, to believe in it wholeheartedly, because sometimes, that is all you have to hang onto.”
“This book is SO good, it almost reads like a mystery! I felt such a range of emotions when reading it. Was he guilty? Was he innocent? Such a compelling read, I finished it in one night!”
“Unholy Scandal is a fascinating look into opposing perspectives. Learning Father Freemont’s side of the issue was enthralling, and will make any reader eager to delve further into the story. The book is written in such an eloquent manner and does a great job expressing his thoughts through Patti Hornstra’s words.”