The Cardinal Virtues

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Father Laurence O’Toole (“Lar”) McAuliffe once dreamed of transforming the world—and the Church—through faith and bomb-throwing radicalism. Twenty years later he’s become fussy, weary, and worn out with being a priest at Saint Finian’s parish in Chicago’s Forest Springs. Then Father Lar encounters the unexpected and maybe the miraculous: a new priest, fresh out of seminary and rumored to be trouble. Father Jamie Keenan has a family that’s too powerful and a personality that’s a shade too innocent and unwisely optimistic. And he’s much too good-looking besides… for a parish where an ex-nun is rediscovering her sexuality; a marriage is tragically falling apart; a sensual, radical young Irish woman is challenging Father Lar’s most deeply held beliefs—and where scandal and even danger may ruin a young priest’s life.