In the last three decades, many books have been published on the role of the Vatican in the modern world. Popes and Politics shows that many recent authors, whether devoted or antagonistic to the papacy, have been guilty of factual distortions and biased interpretations that lead to a flawed picture of the Church and its relation to contemporary society. Among the authors analyzed are James Carroll, John Cornwell, Margherita Marchione, Ralph McInerny, Michael Phayer, Garry Willas and Susan Zuccotti. Lawler cites 'chapter and verse' to illustrate that many of these critics are doing to the church what the Church historically did to the Jews - methodically scapegoating an imaginary enemy.