On February 28, 2016 I was in my hometown at my parents house and watching the Oscars. At the very end of course is Best Picture. It happened to be Spotlight, a film that chronicles a team of Journalists exposing the ecclesial cover up of priests who had been abusing, molesting, and raping children.
When Morgan Freeman read “Spotlight” I was very angry. The thoughts going through my head where: “Typical liberal Hollywood going after the Catholic Church, what a surprise!” My mom came in the room and asked me who won. My response was: “That anti-Catholic movie.” I retired to my room annoyed but curious. I wanted to see the movie for myself, so I rented it on iTunes and watched it that night.
To my shock it was an absolutely amazing movie. There were many moments in the movie where I felt that the writers(one of whom is Jewish) could have taken an extra shot at the Church but didn’t. I was very impressed. The story was about the evil deeds of the Church.
I love my Church. I love the doctrine, the saints, the devotions, and the liturgy. However, that won’t make me refrain from giving criticism where it is due. If you promote an organization, you have to deal with its dirty laundry. Many people believe that the Pope and the Bishops cannot be criticized. Because of that view, it took a team of non-Catholics to expose this cover-up whereas it should have been done from within and stopped far earlier.
The hierarchy was in error, just like it has been in error many times throughout history. The Church has never(and never will) dogmatically promulgate a false doctrine. Regardless, they are human beings and prone to mistakes in every other area.
I want to thank those who made Spotlight. Everyone should see this movie. Those journalists did an amazing job tracking down information and talking to victims. When I finished watching the movie, the only emotion I felt was anger toward those evil priests and sadness for the children who had been molested and often had their lives and faith destroyed.
Yesterday I rented the movie again and watched it. I had exactly the same emotions as I did the first time. The Church under Pope John Paul II completely failed to deal with these demonic priests. Did the Pope know about it? How could he not? America wasn’t the only country with this problem.
I recently talked to a priest who is in a certain Society of Apostolic Life. He claims that they don’t allow homosexuals to enter their order. Seminarians are specifically asked if they’re homosexual. He told me a story where a fourth year seminarian made a sexual advance on a fellow seminarian. The seminarian told the faculty and the sexually deviant seminarian was placed in front of the Blessed Sacrament and all the clergy and was asked if that accusation was true. He confessed that it was and he was on a plane home that night. None of the priests in this order have been involved in child molestation. Why doesn’t every seminary in the world operate like this?
The priesthood is an important calling and it makes me sick when evil men occupy this position and use it for evil. Bishops who cover them up are equally guilty. They deserve to be punished by the law and stripped of their ecclesial rank. Thank you Spotlight for exposing these evil men.
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