In the 1930s, the Communist Mexican government outlawed Catholicism and officials imprisoned or killed priests who refused to renounce their faith.

Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory chronicles the story of a Mexican priest on the run from a Mexican policeman.

We never learn the name of the priest or the policeman, but we learn much about the priest.

He is flawed in many ways and overwhelmed with guilt over the sins of his life. He drinks so much that he refers to himself as a "whiskey priest"; and he broke his vow of chastity years ago, resulting in an illegitimate daughter. But he clings to his faith, despite the risk to his life.

As the priest travels from town to town, the policeman pursues him, going so far as to execute those who did not turn in the priest when they had the chance.

Many characters come in and out of the story and nearly all are suffering from the poverty and/or from shame. Poor and weak and struggling with his faith, the priest's life is also filled with misery.

But The Power and the Glory still leaves us with a feeling of hope and a belief in redemption. For people and for the church.