Published Books

Francis Bede -  a Gael man.  Author of

Bad Clergy - a question in five fantasies. 

God in the Human Machine - a theobiography.

Between Old Worlds - Poems Cyberwit 2025.

Alfonso, His Vignettes 1936 to 1968. 

For sale at all good independent bookstores.

 

Bad Clergy - a question in five fantasies

On a cloudy Friday in 1980 the pot smoking Bad Clergy are out for a big night in the dirty old ‘Syndey’ town. Kelly, Muldoon, Mahone and Clancy (and two silent companions) - Catholic priests all - throw off their robes and embrace the contradictions of their theological guardianship.

A literary burlesque of satire, criticism, theology and social commentary, Bad Clergy weaves in its diabolical night’s tale a journey of transition from eager Eucharist to doubtful Divinity.

Through prose, verse and dialogue, digressing in places with a series of absurdist encounters, Bad Clergy offers a jarring, darkly humorous and fantastical taste of the bitter clash between convenient dogma and inconvenient reality.

“I told you Sydney Town is Sin City.” - John Bede Polding Catholic Archbishop of Sydney 1841-1877

 “Are Catholic Priests really like the ones portrayed in this book?” - A Vatican Spokesperson

“Though Bad Clergy is a heavy read it could be satisfying.” - The Food Writer

 “It makes me wonder.” - The Daily Bread

 “How dare this book scoff at the greatest institution that’s ever been! It must be banned!” - The Catholic Apologist

 “Thank God for Irreverence.” - The Protestant

  Companion to the book - God in The Human Machine – a theobiography.

 

God in The Human Machine – a theobiography

 This fantastical tale concerns the theological life of Frank O’Connor (The Horned Bouncer in Bad Clergy), from his first calling to when other voices entered his head whilst training for the Catholic priesthood. There can be no greater life than one in which the most intense feelings are reserved for the mystery that is Catholic theology. It is the role of the Catholic priest to reveal this mystery, as though he were the Christ, to all who would willingly accept him. The priest, when all is against him, must prove himself equal even to the Devil, who exists to oppose him. Having risen above the ordinary, the virgin priest Frank when ordained, must be required to produce works worthy of his God, with his faith in God and in his church his only guide.  

“Then he Frank, will make ungodly utterances in these pages; and devilishly, he’ll grow strong feelings and think to throw his catholic faith over his shoulders.” – John Clancy

“Then he, Frank will adhere to, and associate himself with questions concerning mind-synced dogma, and who will also make auto-suggestive penance.” – Mark Kelly

“Then he will consider atheist and other measured discourses in secret; and glad is he who can do such things in the moments which he can count as honest, that he may the more boldly do it.” – Matt Muldoon

“And then he Frank, being hardened, will show himself as he is. And he, being thrown against a gulf of misery, and for fortitude and grace he rides it, shall then launch into his enemy’s deceivings.” – Luke Mahone

“Feck!” – The goosey two

 

Companion to the book Bad Clergy – a question in five fantasies

 

Between Old Worlds - poems  Cyberwit 2025

   

Alfonso, His Vignettes 1936- 1968 

Chosen and edited by Francis Bede

A minor writer should still have his day in the literary sun. The light of such work may shine bright just briefly, but for the descendants of a writer such as Alfonso Drill, that light is forever bright. So here presented are some of his works, vignettes he calls them, in the shape of the letter L, because that’s how his thoughts, his observations, fell onto the page.

That his granddaughter rescued them is a testament to his family presence.  His speech too often came out in a growl, disarming to strangers, but to family he was kindly and considerate, and generous in his ways. His words coming from a man ill at ease with the world, and yet a man at ease with himself.