Against the Current - by Tyler Bieber (Hardcover)

About the Book

Annotated Chapter Overview

Prologue Set on October 29, 1989, the Prologue recounts the fatal accident that claimed Tom Oddo's life and the immediate impact on the University of Portland community.

Part One: Hail Mary, Full of Grace Covers Tom's early life in Queens, his education at Notre Dame, and his spiritual formation in the wake of Vatican II. Traces his deepening commitment to social justice, his work with Dignity (a Catholic LGBTQ+ support group), and his evolving theology, culminating in his doctoral work that compares the priesthoods of Thomas Merton and Daniel Berrigan.

Part Two: The Bluff Focuses on Tom's transformative presidency at the University of Portland during the 1980s. From his innovative fundraising strategies and support for co-ed housing to the construction of the Chiles Center and Chapel of Christ the Teacher, Tom's leadership reshaped the campus. Highlights include his encounter with Ronald Reagan, activism on AIDS awareness, and a growing national profile.

Part Three: Camelot These chapters reflect on the cultural and moral climate of the 1980s and Tom's navigation of political and theological tensions, including apartheid divestment and rising tuition costs. His leadership drew comparisons to that of JFK, and his legacy was marked by both admiration and institutional challenges.

Part Four: This is Death The final section explores the aftermath of Tom's sudden death: the grief and memorials that followed, contested memories, and ongoing reflections on his life's work. The book closes with a first-ever conversation between the father and son involved in the accident that took Tom's life, underscoring the far-reaching impact of his loss.

--Tyler Bieber

Book Synopsis

The most influential gay activist you've never heard of.

Father Thomas Oddo (1944-1989)--known simply as "Father Tom"--pioneered LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. In the wake of Stonewall and the Second Vatican Council, he paved the way for those seeking a space where faith and identity could coexist. At just 29 years old, he was an early national leader of DignityUSA, positioning himself as a key figure in the fight for civil rights. By 38, he became President of the University of Portland, a rising academic star poised to transform higher education. A tragic car accident cut his life short at 45, but his story and his legacy continue to impact the course of the Church today.

In Against the Current, Tyler Bieber presents a compelling biography based on intimate interviews, personal archives, and never-before-seen documents. The book explores encounters with celebrities, politicians, and Pope John Paul II while diving into themes of hope, resilience, and loss. It reveals a forgotten chapter of American history, a story of courage within the confines of tradition, and a meditation on redemption, identity, and the future of Catholicism.

For readers of LGBTQ+ history, modern Catholicism, and untold stories of activism, this legacy is waiting to be uncovered.

--Tyler Bieber

Review Quotes

"[A] marvelous new biography." --DAN LAWTON, author of Above The Ground: A True Story of the Troubles in Northern Ireland

--Tyler Bieber

"As President of the University of Portland, Tom [Oddo] had to deal with some major challenges right from the beginning, some financial, some organizational. He took it on with great energy and enthusiasm and advanced the reality and reputation of the school a great deal." --Rev. Edward A."Monk" Malloy, C.S.C.

"I loved getting to know Tom better. Until now, he hasn't received the attention he most definitely deserves." --Brian McNaught, author of A Prince of a Boy: How One Gay Catholic Helped Change the World

"So much of Father Tom's story from decades ago resonates with our modern context--questions of peace, the meaning of faith in a changing world, and the relationship between the Catholic Church and LGBTQ+ people... Against the Current is a powerful reminder that the path I have walked is well-trodden and so many others have come before. It is a moving tribute to the enduring legacy of Father Tom Oddo and the values he stood for and courageously advanced." --Senator Marko Liias

In his marvelous new biography of Fr. Tom Oddo, Against The Current, Tyler Bieber recounts the extraordinary life of the Catholic priest, educator, and leader, Rev. Thomas Oddo, CSC. Bieber's exhaustive and painstaking research draws heavily from primary sources, including archival material, interviews, and handwritten notes created decades ago by his subject. Bieber weaves a tale that parallels the story of Catholicism in America during times of seismic change following the Second World War and the Second Vatican Council. Bieber's through-line is Oddo's daily effort to live the Gospel and encourage others by example to do the same. Bieber's narrative never drags, and his style is vivid, direct, and plain, making for easy reading as the reader turns the pages wanting more. It helps that his subject's personal qualities include humility, loveability, athleticism, honesty, innovation, fearlessness, and passion for selfless service to people. This is the best nonfiction work about the Church's struggle to maintain relevance in times of upheaval since Charles Morris's American Catholic. --Dan Lawton, author of Above The Ground: A True Story of the Troubles in Northern Ireland