By The Sword and The Cross

The Real History of the Catholic Church

Sword & Cross is a fearless investigation into the real history of the Catholic Church — a story not of pure faith, but of power, politics, and profit.

From the first-century gatherings of frightened disciples to the towering cathedrals of medieval Europe, from the Council of Nicaea to the Vatican Bank, this book traces how Christianity was transformed into one of the most powerful institutions in human history. Scripture itself was shaped and edited to reinforce authority, demand obedience, and secure wealth. Councils and concordats turned theology into policy, while inquisitions and crusades weaponized belief against enemies both inside and outside the faith.

Yet the Church’s history is not only one of corruption and compromise. It is also a story of reformers, martyrs, and prophets who dared to stand against empire and tyranny. This duality — the sword and the cross — defines the Catholic legacy.

Highlights include:

• The making of the Bible and the texts deliberately excluded.

• The rise of papal power through wealth, land, and financial empires.

• The Crusades, Inquisition, and suppression of dissent.

• Resistance to Copernicus, Galileo, and Darwin.

• Concordats with Mussolini and Hitler.

• The Vatican Bank and organized crime scandals.

• The modern sexual abuse crisis and global cover-ups.

• Liberation Theology and the struggle for justice in Latin America.

Blending investigative journalism with accessible history, Sword & Cross strips away myth and reveals how faith became entangled with empire. At once critical and clear-eyed, this book is for anyone who has ever wondered how a religion founded by a crucified carpenter became an institution of kings, cathedrals, and billion-dollar treasuries.