The CardinalHenry Morton Robinson1950

This novel traces the development of one man's vocation from young Roman Catholic priest in New England through his elevation as cardinal in the early part of this century. Along the way, he faces many moral dilemmas and heartbreaks: a turn-of-the century version of partial birth abortion which his physician brother-in-law refuses to perform (and suffers professionally for his moral stand); the question of condoning a "charity" in his diocese which seeks to promote contraception among his flock; ethnic rivalries between the Irish and the Italians, and later, Polish immigrants.