Forgive Me, Father: A True Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Brutal Murder

by John Glatt

Book Overview

Father Gerald Robinson was a pillar of his Toledo, Ohio church-going community. A popular priest, he was especially admired in the city's Polish neighborhoods for delivering powerful sermons in Polish. In later years, Father Robinson ministered to the sick, and eventually ended up serving as chaplain at Mercy Hospital-where met Sister Margaret Ann Pahl. Sister Margaret, age 72, was well-loved at Mercy. When, in the hospital's sacristy, she was found...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312946465
• ISBN13: 9780312946463
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime Classics
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

An Unlikely Murder Story

Just the prospect of a story of Catholic priest murdering a nun seems preposterous. Regardless of one's feelings about the church or Christianity, the story seems hard to grasp. I can not argue with the stance of some reviewers that Father Robinson's guilt may not have been proven, but I can inform readers that this is an informative and interesting read. In many ways, Father Gerald Robinson was an atypical priest. To some he seemed socially awkward. There also existed whispers about his membership in an underground satanic group that dressed in nun garb. Yet nothing seemed as sensational as the prospect of killing a nun over a post-sermon argument. When Sister Margaret Ann Pahl was found dead in the church sacristy. Evidence would seem to point toward Father Robinson. However, it would take over 20 years to bring him to trial. One major detractor from the story is the lack of visual evidence. The alleged murder weapon is unusual. For this reason, I suspect readers may have trouble picturing the key evidence. It would also help convince the reader of Father Robinson's guilt. Even those well versed in their knowledge of Roman Catholicism may learn something about the church through Glatt's documentation of the investigation. To some degree, the church's maneuvers are shocking. Despite the story, Glatt's tone is never spiteful against the Catholic church.

Justice better late than never

I enjoyed this book it put into perspective how far the Catholic church will go to protect their priests. Sister Margeret can finally rest in peace. It is sad it took nearly 30 years to happen.

Excellent book, fascinating case

I have read and enjoyed other books written by Mr. Glatt, and found this one to be fascinating, well-researched, and well-written. The case itself is intriguing: a priest accused of killing a nun. In a brutal, possibly Satanic way. 25 years ago. The book does not concentrate on being lurid or sensational, but presents a matter-of-fact telling of the facts of the case, up through investigation and the eventual trial of the defendant over 25 years after the murder. Sister Margaret Ann was brutally choked and stabbed to death on the day before Easter in a Toledo, Ohio church hospital in 1983. At the time, Father Robinson, a priest at the hospital, was the prime suspect due to questions about his whereabouts and some strange behavior he exhibited. However, due to lack of evidence, the case lay dormant for over 20 years until it was picked up by the new "cold case squad". Especially interesting is how we learn about the forensic evidence- in this case, an unusual letter opener and bloodstains on an altar cloth from the crime scene. Robinson was convicted of the crime, causing people in his community to question how could a priest kill someone? Especially a nun? In a chapel? These certainly are intriguing questions, and the author does his best to address them, although Robinson does not confess and offers little insight into his character. If you're a fan of true crime, especially thoughtful, well-written material, then you're sure to enjoy this one.

creepy and riveting

John Glatt tells the intriguing story of a gruesome and ritualistic cold case crime which took place in a chapel of a hospital in Ohio. Glatt goes behind the scenes and does an in depth investigation revealing dark secrets which were covered up by the Catholic Church for many years. Although this violent and humiliating act was between an angry priest and a nun, the final judgement was not by God, or the Catholic Church. Judgement of a man killing a woman took place many years later, in a court of law, using the laws of man. Glatt's descriptions of Robinson are creepy and riveting. It's hard to believe that this monster still has some supporters in the Polish Catholic community of Toledo!

Great read

Terrific read. John Glatt tells the story of Father Gerald Robinson and the murder of Sister Margaret in clear, concise terms. He paints a great picture of the chraracters involved and their lives in Toledo.