SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Author Carl N. Merkle has released KIDNAPPED: A Memoir of Faith and Injustice, a nonfiction work that combines personal memoir, legal commentary, and religious reflection.
The book follows Merkle’s account of events arising from a bankruptcy case and his allegation that he was wrongfully taken into custody in a federal bankruptcy courtroom on December 6, 2021. Merkle uses that event as the central point for a broader examination of the U.S. judicial system, constitutional structure, and Christian belief.
The memoir includes a historical section on U.S. founding documents and selected religious references in American civic history. Merkle discusses the Declaration of Independence, the phrase “Supreme Judge of the world,” and the role he believes Christian ideas played in the development of American law and government. The book also addresses the U.S. Constitution, the separation of powers, and the question of judicial accountability.
In the personal section, Merkle recounts his bankruptcy proceedings, his filings, and his view of the court process. He states that his case raised questions about authority, equity, and what happens when a government institution acts outside its proper limits. The book frames these issues within Merkle’s Christian faith and his belief that legal events can have moral and spiritual significance.
KIDNAPPED also references Rededicate 250, a national prayer and rededication effort connected to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Merkle states that the timing of the book’s completion is connected to that period of public reflection.
The book is intended for readers interested in faith-based nonfiction, memoir, legal process, constitutional questions, and personal accounts of conflict with public institutions.
