Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman Found His Heart and Nearly Lost His Mind

by Jack Keogh

Driving Straight On Crooked Lines is Jack Keogh's inspiring autobiography, covering the twenty years of his life from adolescence in Dublin, Ireland, to adulthood as a Catholic Priest in the Legion of Christ, and onwards: transitioning to a new life as husband, father, and international management consultant. For twenty years, Jack's life was intertwined with the Legion, and its controversial founder Marcial Maciel. Both the Legion, and Maciel feature in this memoir, but it is not about them. Rather, this is Jack's story. As such, it is told with candor, a sparkle in the eye, plenty of blarney, and Irish good humor. Spanning locations across the globe, this memoir gives insight to the inner workings of what some see as a religious cult, and to the inner thoughts of a former priest. It tells how an Irishman found his heart, and in doing so, nearly lost his mind. It is often moving, frequently funny, very entertaining, and always memorable.

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2010

About the author

A native of Ireland, Jack Keogh, has enjoyed a diversified career in consulting and management within corporate and non-profit institutions both in the United States and several other countries.

He developed hands-on skills as a Regional Vice President at one of the premier Human Resources consulting firms, headquartered in New York City. Subsequently, he created and directed the international mobility management programs for a major US corporation.

He also contributed on a senior management level as chief operations officer for a New York City based professional organization. As first Executive Director of the respected Cooperation Ireland in New York, he worked with international corporations and the European Union to create and direct a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the conflict in Ireland through economic development.

In Mexico City, where he resided for over ten years, he co-founded the Irish Institutes of Mexico City and Monterrey and served at the prestigious Anahuac University, a leading university in Latin America.

He consults with major multinational corporations and his assignments have led him to many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.


Before founding Keogh and Associates Consulting, LLC, Jack served as Vice President, Human Capital Strategies at Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a division of Prudential Financial, where he was privileged to help develop the international capabilities of the company.

Jack has studied in Spain and Italy, holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from universities in those countries and is fluent in their languages.

He is a highly regarded and sought after consultant and speaker. To date he has addressed more than 40,000 participants in the USA, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Jack consults on global human capital development issues and delivers training.

He resides with his wife and children in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Jack Keogh]

Spanning locations across the globe, "Driving Straight on Crooked Lines" is a memoir by Jack Keogh that gives insight to the inner workings of the Legion of Christ, and to the thoughts of a former priest who collaborated with the controversial Fr. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Mexican religious congregation.

What makes this book different? According to Australian writer Cerian Griffiths, "Amongst the literature available on the Legionaries of Christ, Driving Straight on Crooked Lines, offers a realistic insight, told with a subjective, non-judgmental outlook. It’s both moving, and heartening." Keogh tells how he ultimately came to believe that God does indeed drive straight on the crooked lines of our lives. Griffiths said: "Keogh's sincere narrative, in which he faces many challenges, inspires an attitude of hope for the future. His gripping story is told with candor, a sparkle in the eye, plenty of blarney, and Irish good humor." It tells how an Irishman found his heart, and in doing so, nearly lost his mind.

[John Doyle]

As a priest and a member of the same religious congregation that Jack belonged to, I feel that his book should be mandatory reading for all members of the congregation, not that it would need to be obligatory anyway as it is such a great read! Back when I was a seminarian, certain LC superiors and of course the disgraceful founder, Maciel, often labeled ex-members of our congregation as as disgruntled, unbalanced, or worse. It seems that some of the ones doing the talking back then were the ones to be wary of. In my opinion, much has changed in the congregation for the better since then, but still, as a wise man once said, "those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their past are bound to repeat them". The way that Jack was treated was wrong and unworthy of the Church that Jesus founded and of a congregation professing his name and devotion to his Sacred Heart. Not only is this book an informative snapshot into the past from which multiple lessons may be gleaned, it is also a very entertaining and humorous read. The author relates the experiences that he went through, both the positive and the negative, in a most balanced and non-judgmental way. It was truly courageous of the author to write this memoir and it gives a glimpse into the heart of a good man who despite the ordeal that he was put through continues to 'drive straight' in the ways of faith, optimism, and goodwill! You will not regret reading this book!