Christianity Today

David DiCerto reviews films for the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has skin in this game. He is in essence reviewing a film critical of his employer. I graduated from a Roman Catholic seminary. The sexual malfeasance amongst clerics revealed to date is only the tip of the iceberg. From my own experience, and that of numerous classmates, ordained or nor, "promised chasity" is a myth. Richard Sipe's estimate of those observing it is low. The well documented actions taken by Bishops - Ratzinger included - to shield clerical abusers from criminal prosecution were deliberate, coordinated, criminal and immoral acts designed to protect the "patrimony" of the church: money and unconditional reverence from their flock - the foundation of their exhalted positions. DiCerto's beef is really that the film masterfully called the church to task about that fact, without giving the misplaced "reverence" that caused the crisis in the first place.

I was once a believer, but after close examination of Christianity, its origins and evolution, and specifically after the continued atrocities uncovered in films like this, I have to come to the conclusion that the world would be a far better place without the bane of religion. There is simply no excuse for the protection of institutions and clergy that indulge and protect those that would harm a child. The fact that they actively covered it up defies the specific charge with which these people were entrusted – and if one does not think that is the case here and around the planet, you are not living in reality. Having two young children of my own, I struggle daily as my wife wants to bring them up in the Catholic faith. I am to the point that unless the Church reveals every single individual involved in these horrific crimes, and notifies the parishioners where they reside, that I would not expose my children to such risk.

You made about as good a Catholic try as possible to try to criticize this film. The Vatican had a chance to participate, but as a Catholic in the Milwaukee Archdiocese I can tell you they generally say as little as they can on this issue. The bottom line is the facts are the facts, and the facts really aren't aggrandized in this film. I understand the "devices" documentary movies use. The grainy film was pictures of the priest and the kids, what else are they going to use. It all comes down to the testimony of these deaf people who were abused. It is powerful, it is real. That is why the archdiocese of Milwaukee has done everything in its power to avoid a trial. The Wall Street Journal quote is an interesting argument. But the facts are the Catholic church did zero forever, even though it was in their best interest to do more.

As the author of the review, I wanted to address and hopefully clarify several points. The agony of those victims profiled in the film -- and by extension, all victims of sexual abuse -- resonated with me deeply as a parent, as a Catholic and as a human being. I would never defend the indefensible. The shame wrought on the Church I love, and more important, the pain caused to so many innocent lives by those entrusted with their spiritual care is a continuing source of anguish to me. The heinous acts chronicled -- both the abuse and, more unconscionable, the subsequent negligence and lack of compassion on the part of certain local ecclesial and civil authorities - is fair game for honest investigation. My problem is not that Gibney tried to shed light on crimes or self-preserving cover-ups, no matter how difficult for Catholics to face. I acknowledged he raised "legitimate and grave" questions." But the truth, however painful, cannot be served, ultimately, by misrepresenting it in part.

As a life long atheist I am outraged and yet the revelations over the years will continue in my opinion. Just in the last few days the Archdiocese of Los Angeles released 12,000 pages of internal church documents that they alledge detail information about church officials accused of molesting children or participated in covering it up. The court ordered agreement for them to do this is six years old. It took them 6 years and upon examination we learn today that on many documents the names of church supervisors informed of abuse allegations were redacted by the archdiocese, a violation of the court's order. Furthermore there is ample reason to believe that the church's attorneys deliberately misled the public as to the number of pages that were to be released, saying in a press release last January that there were 30,000 pages. And you ask us to take umbrage at the film maker? You wish to aid and abet heinous acts? You have no decency.