[1] "'Set in a Roman Catholic diocese,...Three Cheers for the Paraclete is about the dilemma of the rebel who knows that established authority is wrong but doesn't know how to put it right because he is himself too much a part of it.

"In the character of young Father Maitland, scholar and humanitarian, many readers will recognize a lost hero of our time.

"[1] In The Canberra Times, John N. Molony is impressed with the book but finds a number of problems with it: "The heart of the novel is about belief, but for this reviewer the transplant didn't work.

It is hard to say about a Keneally that his theme was too big for him and that he couldn't incarnate his problem in living characters.

"[2] Kirkus Reviews found something more in the book: 'Keneally's rather existential points are made with delicacy, at times with a warm, broad humor, and Father James is a vigorous, attractive priest.