NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

    CLAREVILLE, Australia (CWNews.com) - Morris West, the Australian novelist who wrote 30 books, often dealing with Catholics themes, died on Saturday of a heart attack at 83 years old as he was writing his last novel.

    West reportedly died midsentence as he was writing "The Last Confession." Among his best-known novels were "The Shoes of the Fisherman," "The Devil's Advocate," and "Children of the Sun." Father Paul Collins, another author, told the Canberra Times newspaper that West's "tense relationship" with the Catholic Church is countered with a strong loyalty and affection for the religion.

    West had entered the Christian Brothers order, but left in 1939 before taking his final vows and then continued to include religion as a major theme throughout his 54-year career.

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