Overview

Catholic Media Association Award Winner 

Honorable Mention - Biography

"We owe them gratitude for this labor of love in bringing his life into the fullness of light." - The Catholic Worker

"This book is an impactful read for anyone struggling with their place in a movement or wanting to learn more about the history of Catholic social justice." - Anne Pearson, Pax Christi

"No Guilty Bystander adroitly and dramatically traces Gumbleton's remarkable life, a veritable parallel history of the events that have confronted our consciences since the 1960s." - Paul Wilkes, National Catholic Reporter

“Frank Fromherz and Sister Suzanne Sattler chronicle the development of a courageous minister of the gospel driven by an empathetic social conscience; an auxiliary bishop with a global flock.  Tom Gumbleton's openness to God's Spirit allowed him to be formed not only by family, friends, and seminary, but by hostages, women, victims of abuse, migrant workers, residents of the inner city, LGBTQ persons, the tortured, the destitute and homeless, and so many other fellow pilgrims on his journey whose impact is rarely felt by the church's hierarchy.”—Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington; Bishop-President, Pax Christi USA

“Thomas Gumbleton is not just, hands down, the greatest bishop in U.S. history but one of the great saints and prophets of our time. He walks clearly in the footsteps of the nonviolent Jesus, and lives and proclaims the Gospel whether it’s accepted or not.”—Fr. John Dear, director, Beatitudescenter.org; author, The Nonviolent Life

 “No Guilty Bystander captures beautifully Bishop Gumbleton’s depth of holiness, reach of courage, and commitment to Gospel nonviolence. His inspiring story is an important reminder that true servant leadership is still possible in our broken world.”—Marie Dennis, co-president, Pax Christi International

“This book is a celebration of what authentic discipleship looks like, and, for anyone who wonders what it means to speak truth to power from a place of deep and abiding faith, reflecting on the life of Tom Gumbleton is the perfect place to start.”—Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA

 "[Bishop Gumbleton's] motto was: "Be doers of the Word." As the title of this excellent biography by Frank Fromherz and Suzanne Sattler amply testifies, he lived out his motto to the full. . . . [His] life was indeed 'extraordinary'." —Fr Rob Esdaile, Independent Catholic News

“This book is both a testimony to one remarkable life and a vivid chronicle of a very human church living through a century of growth and change. An exemplary case study for all these trends, it can certainly serve as secondary reading for undergraduate courses on Catholic peace- and justice-making. Fromherz and Sattler deserve our thanks and congratulations.” - Ronald G. Musto, American Catholic Studies

Thomas Gumbleton, retired Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, has long served as an outstanding voice and witness for peace and justice in the Catholic Church. From his early opposition to the Vietnam war, his work on the Bishops’ historic pastoral on nuclear weapons, to his peacemaking missions and solidarity with marginalized communities around the globe, and his promotion of reform and renewal in the church, he has offered a prophetic model of faithful discipleship.

Royalties on sales of No Guilty Bystander will go to the Kay Lasante Health Clinic in  Haiti. 

Frank Fromherz, PhD, taught for many years at Portland State University. He directed the Office of Justice and Peace/Catholic Campaign for Human Development for the Archdiocese of Portland from 1990 to 2003. He is the author of A Disarming Spirit: The Life of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen.

Suzanne Sattler, IHM, a resident of Detroit since 1968, ministered as a teacher and then as an attorney in the public policy areas of health care, aging, and environ-mental sustainability. She served in solidarity with the people of El Salvador for over 35 years.

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